COVID-19: Lockdown with Thought Leader Gus Lawson

Transcript by Scribie

Bryan Shue: Now, this is a great cool happy afternoon ladies and gentleman or morning or night wherever you might be listening to or watching this. My name is Bryan Shue with fullmoon, and we are doing lockdown with thought leaders. So today I have a distinct pleasure of having Gus Lawson witness, and I will tell you hes a networking fiend. The man is of networking genus. I love his fans, every day.

I see something he posts about networking and through LinkedIn. It’s something amazing is something very thought-provoking. So as I wanna turn it over to you, kinda introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about what you do with that who you are, and we’ll go into some deeper dive questions.

Getting to know Gus Lawson

Gus Lawson: Great, well, Bryan, thank you so much, I’m flattered by your kind words. You’re just throwing some great thought for booking stuff. They’re out there, too. And so, I really enjoy senior content. And I guess if I had to have one takeaway for everyone is that you all can be thought leaders, and you all can be putting yourself out there and really sharing your expertise and I think it’s within everyone.

And so I think as we discuss networking and getting as I’ve helped people get comfortable with networking that kind of next stage is getting comfortable thrown yourself out there. And so, a lot of similar beliefs there. But let’s get to my story real quickly. So, believe it or not. Actually, five years ago. I hate networking. I thought that networking, you had to be somebody else other than who you were. I saw Moses, who kind of lacks substance. succeed a little bit and that left a sour taste in my mouth.

Gus Lawson: I also thought that I could be rewarded based upon my own good work hard work ethic, so those factors really kept me believing that I didn’t need networking, and then also based on a… My military experience and even experiences with a large consulting company where I was given my next assignment.

Hey, here’s the next project. Go do great things. So I those experiences all believed that helped me believe that I didn’t need networking.

Let’s fast forward to when I was a DA large consulting firm that I worked with had restructured, I found myself on a new team, and I had a clearance at the time, and my clearance evaporated because my background investigation lasted and even though I had submitted the paperwork, nothing had no action had been preceded on that and so, and I went to start my next assignment. Oh, you don’t have a clearance you can’t go to that project. We’ll give you a month, but if you don’t find anything, we’re gonna let you go. And so ultimately I was let go and my saving grace was I had just completed my coaching certification.

Gus Lawson: And so as a result, I was able to reframe some of my beliefs about networking and so that I realized ultimately that I could be myself, in networking and that if I prepare my elevator pitch ahead of time and if I just do it enough times, I get no comfort.

And so that’s how I worked, that’s how I rolled and then eventually my own networking let me to some speaking opportunities for us Pathfinders program, and then also hiring our heroes, their corporate fellowship and military spouse fellowship programs where I was actually helping them gain comfort with networking, and it was through that process that I realized.

You know what, I’ve got a story to tell here and let me help prevent others from going through what I had to prevent. So that’s kind of my whole little story about me getting affiliated with networking and that’s really great being on some great points because so many of us, whether it be military or civilian, when you think of network and we were like, “Oh that doesn’t sound good. And there’s a negative connotations about networking, because the man of us have thought.

Gus Lawson: I just kind of like elbow people and like, “Hey help me, I’ll help you back. And it’s not necessarily about that is it does, it’s more about those… Our relationships and I think that’s a vital part of who we are as humans we need to understand this is about those relationships we need to build that can be advantageous for us. So I thank you for being willing to tell that story because so many people don’t understand the value of networking until they actually see it be successful.

Bryan Shue: Yeah, and it’s just like anything else where if we try something new and we see benefits of those new behaviors will then start to reshape, and reform our beliefs.

And so to hit on what you said, absolutely networking doesn’t have to be. I’ll give you this if you give me that, let me push push, and sells. So what can I squeeze out of this relationship? It doesn’t have to be that way at all. If you come from a place of service and giving networking is really just it boils down to introducing or sharing information and then connecting people with others that they may value connecting with and learning and discovering others value, and then finding opportunities to provide that value and that’s a vital point.

I think we should be sobering. What network is being able to share that vision of… Hey, it’s not necessarily who gets good out of what is… How can I help another person come get to that next level because a lot of us is looking at this is How can I make that next step up from one level to another? And that’s where networking comes into play, is that that’s where you get to just make those next steps.

You have that network. That’s something that you, that is invested in you as much as you’re an investment in IT, so I want if I was Job was right now, which I’m sure those people that are watching this are… How would I network, what would I do to network successfully into my next role?

Gus Lawson: Great question, Bryan. And so for me, I think the key there another one of my key takeaways, ’cause I want people to be self-ish in their strategy and selfless in their personal interactions, so I recognize that when I say selfish people say, “Well hey, you were just talking about giving… And so, it doesn’t that contradict and I say No.

And here’s why, because when you know specifically what your career mission is and what you’re trying to achieve, just networking for networking sake, may not get you there. And what can oftentimes happen are the one-and-done discussions where if you go to event, you meet people and you say… Yeah, maybe I’m interested in talking to this person and then there’s typically not a conversation or enough out of that where you have a follow-on conversation.

Gus Lawson: And so when you’re networking with purpose and you’re being selfish, about your intense, but again, you’re being a place of service and you’re helping other selflessly then things start clicking, then you start building the relationships. So for example, when I first started coaching, I thought Okay, part of my getting my coaching credential is I need to coach six people and I need to record six different sessions and so I…

Coaching is popular, I can imagine I’m gonna get hundreds of people that are interested in coaching. And so I put a post. This was in 2015, crickets.

I got nobody responded based upon my original interest in and why, because I hadn’t developed those relationships, so then I started pushing out content, building relationships and I still to be honest with you, this was before I figured out my niche, and so then I had developed some relationships. I think you and even Brian at the time, and then I said, Alright, here’s an opportunity for me to coach some other people.

Gus Lawson: And because I had developed those relationships that post-gain traction and as a result, I was able to coach five or six additional people. And doing that allowed me to exceed my threshold for the hours I needed for my certification, so yes, coaching and getting out there and building those relationships is key and that goes back to…

Bryan Shue: That’s a great point about building those relationships in today’s environment. How would you successfully build their relationships? What would you do to get to that point of somebody saying, “Hey I trust you enough, I wanna introduce you to others.

Gus Lawson: Yeah, so I think, goes back to that giving spirit. So showing that you are giving that you are willing to help others before you’re taking the other key component.

Actually, it just went away for me for a second.

So the other key component is the… That you start small, you’re finding things in common with each other, you’re building those areas, and it doesn’t have to be about work.

Gus Lawson: For example, was on a call today with my clients, and as we’re talking beforehand, what did we discover that we all watched Tiger, king over the weekend? And so, what about… We talked about Tiger King and I made the joke that my wife doesn’t know this yet, but I’m going to be leaving her because I wanna find some people that are strung out on drugs, that are a little bit younger and not I got…

So it’s those little things and you can see that I’m interjecting some humor in here and it’s just about being human, so having these human relationships discovering finding things, being a detective as far as, “Hey what do we have in common?

Gus Lawson: So it’s those simple questions and when you go even to a virtual networking event now, ’cause we’re all in a different time now, but it’s finding those common things. So where’s your favorite travel destination?

What’s something you’re excited about? just these very simple questions and then you’re listening, you’re using your ears, you’re discovering what you have in common with people and you’re building on that, and then relationships are best built on trust and value.

Gus Lawson: So then finding out what those other people value and then again, delivering on that value, and then as a result, that trust will go up and then as you build and develop that relationship here’s the key that a lot of people struggle with and myself included, is having that specific request ready to go. So if we think of again, the military folks that are transitioning.

Okay, well I wanna be a project manager or I thought about HR or I wanna be a security person.

Okay, alright, well that’s really wide. And I have no idea who I wanna connect with, but now if you use my career mission and statement as an example, say I help introverts gain comfort with networking.

Gus Lawson: Now, which of those two scenarios, gives you a better picture of who you wanna connect me with? So, being specific in your request and then or what your interests are, and then using an open at a question to then say Who do you have in mind that made value connecting with me?

And so then now you… Rather than saying, “Do you know anybody?

Because when we ask a closed-ended question people will typically automatically default to know, but by asking that open-ended question, we can then get people to…

I open up and really think about the question before they respond.

Those are great perspectives. In one day, I definitely, I think it would be advantageous for a lot of the people that are watching this is… Think about how you’re asking those questions, “How are you placing yourself into being introduced into those conversations that those individuals will have?

Gus Lawson: Because it is even a erases people hire people they trust if they all know you they’re not doing trust you, that’s what they don’t trust you, they don’t hire you. And if you’re looking at a job, I need to be or I’m looking into a new organization, you have to build that trust.

Building trust while networking can be tough

How do you build that trust, you build that trust, your relationships, well how you build relationships, you build relationships or networking, and this is where I really rely on you as how do I successfully build relationships that people will come back and say, “Hey I know you know this person can you introduce me and having that ability to say, “You know what, I don’t know you that well, yet, but let’s build a relationship, so I do know you so I can trust you, so I can then introduce you to people inside my network.

Yeah, so it’s the relationship piece, and then it also goes back to that career mission statement which I talked about earlier, is having that crystal clear mission statement about who you help, and then having that giving nature that then allows you to keep in mind. And then also, one of the specific tactics is that as you’re building your network, it’s not just that initial discussion, it’s about how you maintain that relationship.

Gus Lawson: So, that tip there that I found just really has really helped transform my networking game is by asking When questions. So for example, you say When is that event that you have or when are you starting your new job, or when are you traveling? Well, obviously that’s gonna be for a while, now, but… But by asking those one questions, I then log the responses into my spreadsheet my tracker and then I use my tracker to say, Alright, who do I need to contact this week based upon those responses and then so I have the notes and I know when to follow up.

And based upon that, I send them the son of to… No, Hey, I know you’re starting your job next week, I just wanted to send you note. Best was just to you.

And so rather than waiting for that linked in response that says, they started their new job.

I’m a head of that. So what does that do to the person? So yeah, everybody can respond when you say, Oh, congratulations. They just updated the profile.

Now I’m a head of that curve and I’m reaching out to them, so that elevates me with respect to their network. Any thoughts or reactions there?

So that you really brought a great idea for a lot of us, when you’re looking at working successfully even if you’re living in the job cancer, you’re not even in the networking sphere, but you’re still obviously networking in general. Being able to have those win conversations with somebody. I can really enlighten them and they fear them really. If you think about this ender them to you and say He’s really invested in me, he is really interested in what’s going on in my life.

Gus Lawson: And now in today’s environment, that’s what we really should be looking at is how are we investing in each other, not just professionally, but also, personally, are we asking those questions, “How are you doing, what are you doing, when are you able to do this? Can obviously open up those conversations into deeper topics that can easily open those doors into or Hey, when this is all said and done, which who knows when that is, but when it is done comes are gonna be looking at how can we reinvigorate our workforce and companies might be looking at… Well, I need to add to my team.

Well, if you started that relationship with somebody inside the organization the… Can I go to her manager and say, “Hey boss, I got to know this guy during this whole lot down.

He was a great guy, we’ve had great conversations, I think he’d be great to get to know him, and he might be great for our teams.

Gus Lawson: Well, again, when I talk to people, it’s like I’ve realized people hire people they trust if they don’t trust you, they don’t wanna hire you Well, how do you build that trust? You build that through those conversations, like you were talking about. And I really like that now asking those wind questions… Because me, let’s forget to ask that because we see Hey, I’m starting to do job. What we forgot to ask, but when is it?

Bryan Shue: I mean, I’m guilty of that just much as anybody, ’cause for me I’m certainly was trying to win day it is so I thought today was like “Yeah ears. They are something because I’m like… Oh, so really I think it Mighty Tuesday, I don’t know but it’s… Today during a weekend, or it might still be the weekend, I don’t know but be able to build into that conversation piece of when are you doing this or what is this going on?Can really elevate that relationship to another level because again, it shows that you care.

Gus Lawson: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, yeah. Nothing really to expand on there. I think you’ve done a really nice job of hiding those key points. One thing that you did mention that I would like to speak to is obviously a lot of companies have stopped their hiring process don’t let that for those that are in a transition period, maybe they have been laid off or reduced hours or they were looking to make a change anyway.

Don’t let that assumption stop you from continuing your networking activities because you never know. And the whole point… And the biggest thing since networking and going through the steps that I’ve talked about is opportunities will start coming to you when you have that clear mission statement when you have those relationships when you start putting yourself out there, that’s going to attract people to you.

Gus Lawson: And so, especially during this time we have to think creatively, we have to be innovative, we have to try new things and so by continuing to network by testing things out by continuing to learn and I like to highlight in destiny, re-growth mindset journal that she’s starting ellora. Think about the… What’s possible in… And if you have that on growth mindset, let’s really see what we can accomplish. And so what I encourage people to do now is even if you are stable and you’re in a good situation, “think about what is your plan B and what is it that you wanna do so that you get ahead?

Bryan Shue: And I really think that that’s a great point to bring up because what does happen? You have a plan B. and that’s a great point that I think we can explore further is, what does a plan B, look like and how do you develop a plan B, and that and to me what I rely on the lot is my network and having those conversations with individuals and how knows open-ended questions being asked of me and asking by me to those people that I know.

And again, that’s also building that trust factor, and that’s a big thing for me with networking, especially, it’s trust. Can I trust you to follow through on what we talk about or can I trust you that I know your skills are exactly what you say they are, and then that just comes from easy conversations and it also comes from you being willing to be open and being vulnerable. And that’s another thing about networking that I’ve realized is that I don’t always have to be that look at me all the things I’ve accomplished. Yes, those are great.

But that doesn’t have to be the cold. A package of me, I can tell them, but I can tell them in a way. This is like, “You know what, hey, I’ve got all these great things, but you know what, I’m also human, I’m also a person that is looking to expand his profession. His professional network, and that can be a great topic of conversation for you is How do we merge or glad those two together because now, it’s not a work-life balance per se, as is a work-life blend.

So how are we blending these two together in making stable? So we’re not focusing just on one side and we’re not focusing on just the other side, we’re focusing right kind of somewhere in the middle somewhere, that’s kind of like it. Oh, I feel comfortable here.

Gus Lawson: So feel comfortable here in my work is getting done. A boss is happy, my teams are happy, what my significant other, my family is happy. They feel like they’re being being 10-10 equal. So having that balance, having that blend of detail is especially crucial in today’s environment, and I think that’s where we can come into networking with each other is, Hey, know what my kids are home, they’re driving me crazy. Oh yes, what my kids are home to and they’re driving me crazy.

Well, how are you dealing with your kids? I’m doing this, I’m doing that.

Oh wow, so we have something that can bond us even to another, to a different level, and that can really be beneficial to us. Because when we share experiences, we grow more into with each other.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely, the more I find that the more that I’m open and sharing that helps me. This brings me to a resource that people may value. It’s called the platinum rule, and it’s a book written by Dr. 20 liar. And so, He Bronson down in the two dimensions, started. Or you are direct or indirect?

Gus Lawson: And so, by learning how to balance and learning where others are in their communication style, you can really adapt your communication style accordingly, the deeper it’s just really, from a relationship building perspective. So, for example, I had a boss that she was a bottom line up-front person. And typically, I’m the type of guy who says, Here’s what I’ve seen, here’s the experiences here, a couple of different options, here’s the result.

Well, that kind of drove my boss bonkers ’cause she wanted, she wanted the bottom line up front and it wasn’t until I discovered that.

And so the whole platinum rule, the principle is, is it’s… We’re wanna treat others how they want to be treated.

Gus Lawson: So the golden rule of courses, we treat others like we wanna be treated, but from a communications perspective, we communicate to others the way that they wanna be communicated to and that’s just done a lot for me to help build those relationships and that’s a great point. I think a lot of us failed.

So not necessarily fail to realize but we don’t necessarily need to communicate how we want to be spent going to communicate as others around us need to be because they also deal with things differently. Your boss, or if you’re a leader, your team members may not understand why you’re talking in the way you’re talking to or how you’re managing their don’t work load, like you’ve always done. So that’s where it comes into. Are you openly communicating with your team, in…

It’s very new reality because again, we kinda got just thrown into this and we weren’t really prepared but here we are, how we gonna make the most of it. We made the Musto by communicate with each other. And as leaders, it’s not, it’s our job to communicate and maybe it’s over-communication, but in essence, will not really…

Gus Lawson: There’s no really such thing as over-communicate as is is you’re actually saying the expectations of your team by communicating with them and that’s whether it’s by email, by fold by text, by smoke signals whatever you wanna call it.

Community thing is essential to their success and even to your team success, because again, by to many thing you’re saying expectations when you say expectations, they’re gonna be, they’re gonna be pushed to meet those expectations, they’re going to push themselves to go past this and be like, “See Boss, you told me to meet them. Well, look what I’ve done, besides just meet those here’s why I’m done extra. And then there you go, you’ve now created that.

You know what, I don’t wanna have to just meet I can exceed.

Bryan Shue: Yeah, that’s… That’s fantastic and I wanna bring into a conversation point is, as we deal with this new normal… What’s a passion project you’ve been able to focus on now? More than ever?

Gus Lawson: Sure, so it’s actually a great question and I think it goes back to my plan B. and so the timing has just worked out well for me. And here’s why. So let’s go back to September 2019, time frame company that I used to work with, again, maintained the relationships kept that network going, they wanted to bid me on a change management project it was gonna be part-time work, and from that time when I was employed, I hate to say it, but I had to dip into my 401k.

I’m still dealing with the ramifications from that to this day. And so I talked with stakeholder number one, I talked with my wife and said, “Here are the implications. It’s gonna be me working an extra 15 or 20 hours a week, but here are the benefits from doing that. And she was on board.

Gus Lawson: And so, after doing some prep work the client ultimately wanted to put the change manage and work on pass and so I realized that if I was prepared to put 15 or 20 hours of work, extra per week for a client now that that’s paused, what could happen if I put that 15 to 20 hours of week towards me and how I can help others and so I use that time to develop the online content for the game comfort with networking program.

And so, I wrapped it up in March, I had a webinar in February, to say Here’s where I’m headed with it. If you’re interested, you can sign up. I’m gonna launch it in March. And so the whole POE thing at the time it was in the background and then as it kind of played out now, I realized that Hey, this resource, can help others.

Gus Lawson: And so I’m not in it to make millions and millions of dollars, I’m in it to help others.

So the program is an online program, it’s virtual, it’s available for everyone to use, and so I can imagine that there are restaurant workers or retail workers or people that have been laid-off where they need to get comfortable with networking so that they can find out what their plan B is, or what’s next for them.

And so I’ve made it available for everyone and happy to share a link with you.

And what I’m seeing as a result is there are companies that were reliant on in-person networking, whether it’s at conventions, whether it’s at big events or a small face-to-face meetings, so that they’re attracting new business as those have come to an end temporarily of course, they’re looking to get their sales force online and being more active and visual or being able to be seen.

How Gus Grows

Gus Lawson: And so I’ve had a couple of people reach out to me and say, “Hey can you help our sales force be more active? So those are some of the things that I’m seeing as a result of what we’re going towards and that’s fantastic, because again, if you look back, if this had happened maybe in 15 years ago, our workforce probably could, our workforce could have fallen apart because there wasn’t a technology, like there is today. And that’s one thing I think we should all be thankful forward is that there is a LinkedIn there’s on their Skype they’re faced on or whatever, all these different platforms for us to use.

Take a tangent those take a full advantage of those because they’re there for you to use. I know some people are like, “Oh I don’t wanna be on this platform, but I wanna be on that one. Well, find a platform like a link in as a professional. Again, LinkedIn is where you should be because that’s where other people that are of your same placement are at. And if you haven’t, you lost pointing.

I encourage you, sign up for it started a conversation on LinkedIn with somebody, whether it be in your organization or in someone or maybe a competitor start a conversation with them, start that. Hey, I see you’re working in this space, I’m working at that pace, to… Let’s have a conversation. Let’s do have lunch alone one day and go figure out how can you grow from this? And that’s another part of this whole idea that started as this sounds kind of cool.

How can we encourage growth in today’s place? And that’s crucial, not just for the CC executive, but it’s the regular joe that just system is cubicle and punches and numbers into a spreadsheet… All day. How can you grow?

Gus Lawson: And you brought a great thing about Disney’s Growth Mindset and she mentioned it when we were on the phone earlier and on our earlier episode how is that going to impact us going forward? I think it’s a huge impact-Driven thing we should be doing, and I encourage you guys reach out and have a conversation about how can I grow my mindset, because this is not a time for you be stack. And I think that’s another thing we should think about is the static versus active.

Well, you’re studying because you’re at home, be active at home, be active and be purposeful. Why here at home and working? And so that it can be hugely beneficial for your networking skills of being active and going out there is being vulnerable. I think you mentioned that too, is vulnerability is T right now, in today’s environment, because you know what you’re gonna tell Sabah, you know what I’m dealing with the same thing you’re dealing with.

I got crazy people in my house too, and they’re driving me crazy.

Gus Lawson: I gave from them, there were all stuck together. So let’s take as a win. Let’s take that as a win for us as professionals that we can say, “You know what, hey, I get it, I’m in the same boat as you, but you know it’s not suffering, it’s a… Hey, this is a great opportunity, it’s a great way for me to kind of reset my expectations of myself professionally, and I reckon I go from there.

Bryan Shue: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Forgive me here. But one of my things that helps me and I think it also helps me help others during these times is to be a little bit light about things.

Gus Lawson: Great, with the exception of the corn of is, I don’t make light of the corona virus anymore. Before it came maybe when I was in the Washington area, we saw all the memes with the Corona bottles on one side of the shopping cart and everything else. I think that had its place, then, but now it’s real right?

It’s really affecting people’s lives, so I don’t think it makes sense to joke about that. However, I think it’s good to make light about other things. And so I just have to ask, you mentioned families and sometimes get drive a little bit crazy and sometimes you’re stuck together. So if I’m hearing it correctly are you suggesting I should buy stock in 300m? And because you’re buying a lot of uptake am I hearing it correctly?

There absolutely because you know and something I can be like, over I’m done with you, I need to be quiet. And even your kids, I don’t have a Back and distant, if you have some young kids or just wander around the house like Well, Dad look… Go and you’re like, “Oh my God. What is going on? How did your teachers manage you for so many hours a day?

Gus Lawson: But the also brings us into that point of how are we looking at the groups that take care of things that we maybe took for granted, probably thinking them, how we… And this is one thing for me that I’ve kind of… Now, thought about recently is like, for me, I’ve never had to deal with kids, I couldn’t imagine kids it’s a teacher but there’s teachers out there that have sacrificed so many hours of their day. And how are we gonna get back to them once everything is said Done? And for me, I’m like, “I got friends or our teachers, I’m like, “You know what, bless you for doing that.

Because I would truly string a child, because that would just not be me. I would not wanna do that. They’re like, “Oh it’s just who I am, so… Well, Anna, you mentioned about your career mission is, what is that why… What wakes you up in the morning?

And I think that can also drive that conversation of networking, because it clearly defines what is it that you want to do, what is it that you love to do, if you don’t know what that is, that’s when you have those conversations of… Hey, I’ve done all these things I kinda like this, but I like that. What maybe asking that, “What do you think, Anthony, think type conversations, or Hey, how would it keep break into this field? I “Tullio it.

Gus Lawson: Maybe not a lot, maybe don’t have certifications or education but I do know a little bit how do I bring into that field and people will be really… I know I’ve opened up my calendar for people that to call me in to connect with me and say, “Hey I need to have some opportunities to grow.

Have those conversations be wanting to be vulnerable. I think you can even mentioned that as well, as being vulnerable with people. And saying, “Hey I don’t know it, but you might release you may not be able to point me in the right direction. Let’s go from there and let’s have that one-on-one conversation.

Gus Lawson: Whether it be like this on it, or on maybe a text message or maybe a LinkedIn Chatter, whatever a case might be having that a building to say, “You know what, I need to learn, I need to learn, I need to grow, I need the grow because I need to figure out what to do next, what to do next, can be so impactful for saying up for future success, and that’s where we need to really understand this. It’s not that one person is gonna be so great at this and one person can be so great that you can be great at so many different things but you just need some guy that kind of push you say, “Hey do this, do that, go here, go there, learn one and grow.

And that’s, I think, really can be.

That’s my perspective right now is, I wanna grow, I don’t wanna just around the house and just pull them pulley keyboard for 12-hour day that’s boring.

I wanna be able to sit there and have conversations with people and say, “Tell me what is it that means to grow right now, especially in today’s world.

Bryan Shue: And you brought a really great point today about that is you don’t have to be Okay. It’s not a bad thing for network, especially in today’s environment, it’s actually beneficial for you. And I really love that because so many people have that negative connotation.

Gus Lawson: Yeah, but it’s not supposed to be negative, it’s not supposed to be a bad thing. Spec yes, this is good. This is going to be me going into my next role, with a Lego. Yeah, absolutely, Brian. One thing I think you brought up real quickly is, it reminds me of my hurricane analogy and thank you for sharing that because imagine you’re a tropical depression? Off of the Eastern Atlantic close to Africa.

Well, we know that you’re eventually moving west and you may or may not hit landfall and we certainly don’t know where you’re gonna land, but we know that the hurricane is taking action, so it’s moving further to the west, and as it’s doing so it’s gaining intensity, it’s gaining momentum because it’s forgive the pun, here, but it’s figuring out who it is.

I, it’s a talking with others, not really, but you can see where the analog is coming in, but it’s figuring out its path and so as it’s taking those steps, the cone of certainty becomes more defined, until ultimately we know. Is it gonna make landfall or is it not? And if it is gonna make landfall where specifically is it gonna land?

Gus Lawson: So I encourage people and it’s through those steps and those steps are reaching out to people, talking with other sharing your ideas and getting your reactions.

And the key point here is that’s why it’s so important to meet new people, because if we just focus on those… We already know we may get shut down or they may think that you can’t do that and we start hearing nose, but once we start interacting with new people, we can get encouragement and we can get people that do see us for who we want to be. So thank you for sharing what you did, because it gave that analogy for me to bring up… No, that’s actually a great analogy.

They really thought about, like that because as you really think about your professional development, it kind of… You’re right, it kinda is like a hurting, it’s just kind of like plodding along a sin, you start picking up staying, which by picking a Stanger, picking up connections you’re big growing network you’re growing your education, you’re growing your professional identity, or growing your professional development. And then all of a sudden you’re like, “I Wow, I’m…

Gus Lawson: Then you get that on make landfall making LAN is you’re landing at that child, you’re landing in that career that you’ve always wanted, it’s because you’ve been preparing for so long to get to that point and then you’ve got that point now, you’re actually there, you’re now able to now make that impact. And how, as a servant leader, you’re not even looking. I can say, “Hey other her games. This is what I did, here’s how I got to that point. This is what drove my… And then that can translate.

Networking isn’t a solo activity

Bryan Shue: And that’s another thing about networking that I’ve learned from you is it’s not just a solo thing, it’s a group thing and it should be welcome in that regard.

Yeah, yeah, the great, great observation is print.

So, as we start wrapping this up just how would people connect with you and if for that conversation about… Never in because I know so many people are not comfortable, how would they get in contact and start that conversation with you about getting comfortable networking?

Gus Lawson: Sure, well I am available on LinkedIn and from a branding perspective if you don’t do this, already, but you can modify your user name, so, it’s LinkedIn, dot com and I think it’s in and it cost low.

So, I, in a networking coach can find me on LinkedIn, that way. I’m happy to share my email dress. It’s glass, 73 or 734 or at gmail, dot com. And then recognizing that some people are biased against LinkedIn. Actually yesterday, and this is an area of growth for me. I started an Instagram account and I think it’s a GUS networking coach is my user name. There are so state for more on that.

Gus Lawson: And then of course, “How can we have this discussion without a big shut out to… It’s the industry that’s a fantastic organization so I’m connected with them as well. Lots of resources for the transitioning military community.

Yeah, that’s how you can reach me.

Bryan Shue: And I know I haven’t really brought this up in today’s call, but as a veteran or even if you’re civilian you’re looking at the veteran community, how can they do? And I think I wanna wrap this up as if I was a better looking into joining the civilian community, or I’m looking at joining supporting the veteran community, what do I be doing to enhance that relationship and why would I want to bring a veteran into my team or on to my organization or what would they be able to bring as a professional that I may not realize would be beneficial to me?

Gus Lawson: Sure, so I think the big thing that veterans can do is a couple of big things. The first one is we help bring normalcy to a situation absolutely and the second thing is, we can help build around and so… And let me dive deep on the normal C piece. So, in the military, we’re so used to training ’cause we know we fight how we train and so we train, train, train and so that when we’re put in these dynamic situations and it’s broader than just a battle.

So for example, I served on an aircraft carrier, and I had to know how to respond if there was a hotline chef bearing and what to do with the equipment and what orders I mean to give to what spaces and… And so it’s just that ability to be able to think quickly and respond and do so in a can manner because again we practiced and practiced and practiced until we’re just reacting and we know how to react.

Gus Lawson: So having that experience even though I… For civilians you’re entering a new area, you can really bring that calm and bring that normal C. I think that’s a huge value that the veteran veterans can bring to any organization.

And then again, that are out piece. So from a leadership perspective, a lot of us are servant leaders, we know that we need to take care of our people, for them to take care of the mission and so it’s those simple behaviors about enabling our teams and breaking down the obstacles for them to succeed. And helping them do that, those are some of the big ways that veterans can help.

Bryan Shue: Those are great things. I want to thank you for bringing out because so many of the Barbican don’t realize the value that a veteran can bring into your organization, especially in times like these. This is what we thrive in. Let’s be once the veteran community thrives in this kind of environment, prison. This uncertainty because we live in uncertainty and that’s probably… Again, you brought that train point, that’s what we trained for it, so we’re very comfortable in that, and I hope they are. Civilian colors are watching this.

You don’t take into consideration when they do get back to normal, even though this may be our new normal, welcome the veteran community into your organization if not just through the fact of you’re gonna bring in a capable leader, but you’re also bringing somebody that’s very knowledgeable about deal English crisis and they’re very capable of handling those with ease and also with the knowledge of…

It’s not to last forever. We’re gonna get through this, and all will walk you through this so help then I hope they take that into account when everything is set on that the veteran come station piece. And I think you’ve got… You, your time today, it’s been a pleasure to have you on today, because…

Again, so many people are so uncomfortable with networking. I hope people reach out to you and the help our audience really takes advantage of your guidance and your leadership, on a networking piece, and it really takes it to next LeBeau. It is so valuable for not just your professional development, but also your personal development to thank you so much for your time. Does I look forward to hearing your successes on the networking piece and helping others grow cultural in that? And I love to have you on again this is something down… We continue doing well after the whole block to was over.

Because again, sharing those thoughts that maybe those us that are maybe like, “Oh you know, it’s just a short time thing. No, let’s continue the conversations. Place Oman, end up again. Thank you so much, God, my name is Rich I’m with a lot down with thought leaders. You’ll find our episodes on YouTube, and you’ll also find them on the blog, Fullmoon Digital, and I’m so grateful for this time that we’re able to spend together today, us. 

I look forward to our future conversations because again it’s so many things are happening that are great, not just on the veteran space but in the general space of How can we grow our communities, and how can we make them better? So thank you so much guys, I really appreciate you hope you take care of yourself out there. Stayed… Well, I don’t wanna, I don’t like hear anybody getting coat 19 and those you they’re listening, I hope you’re taking your safety and two considerations. Well, and if you are having to be out and about, again, take those safety precautions we want everybody to return to normal in this soon as possible, but again, hope you have a great day, go take care of yourself, and we’ll be trying, against in.

Gus Lawson: Yeah, thank you so much, Bryan. I really enjoyed our discussion, and likewise I look forward to building the relationship.

Bryan Shue: Absolutely, just thank you so much, have a great one today. Take care yourself and have a great time, we’ll talk to you guys soon.

Check Gus Lawson’s LinkedIn out here: Gus Lawson