393: Maximizing Your Networking Potential- with Eleni Kelakos

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She uses performance techniques learned over 20 years as a professional actress and award winning nationally touring singer songwriter to help speakers and business leaders across the globe present with more authentic authenticity, confidence, and impact. Eleni, welcome to the show.

And that means letting people see what I can do. I learned this really early on as a young actress, you know, and I learned it again as a singer songwriter, and I've certainly learned it as a speaker and coach. When you put yourself out there doing what you do well, other people will want some of that. And as a singer songwriter, I would do songwriting or singing showcases, right?

And people would come hear me and they knew what they were buying. Then these were people who could hire me to sing in their various clubs and so forth. So my belief is you got to put yourself out there in order for people to kind of glom onto you a little bit and have the faith to hire you. So I take the same approach in my work.

I love to do anything that puts me in front of the public. And typically for me, that means speaking, right? So I like to speak. I like to get in front of groups and speak. And I tend to get more speaking jobs when I speak, you know, so I will deliberately choose different times of the year or different times of each month to do something that I would give away for free.

A speaking engagement that I do out of love of doing it and putting myself in front of my target audience. Typically that brings other speaking engagements to me or coaching clients.

And that doesn't work in the business world where if you build it, they will come. You need to be present. You need to show up. That totally resonates with me. I find that whenever I speak, new opportunities definitely present themselves. More fascinating to me is that I get more speaking opportunities.

So it just kind of is like this ongoing chain of speaking engagements, which I find is a great way to, you know, I'm not selling, I'm just showcasing expertise and value and critical awareness.

There's something about that woman. I'd like to lean in further and find out more. And that's all that you can hope for, in my opinion, in an excellent marketing attempt. That's what you're looking for.

I remember as a young kid, the efforts my parents made to have events or parties, where they would be maximizing the relationships that were important from a professional standpoint. I was raised with that notion. But then as a young actress, In New York, I learned really early it was all about that. I didn't really know anybody when I moved to New York. I had a dream and maybe a handful of phone numbers at the time to call. And I went and I found those people and those people led me to other people and they led me to other people. And I learned again early on, it's who you know.

And you can't find those people necessarily if you're doing nothing about finding them. At the time it literally was about getting out, going to networking events, joining the Chamber of Commerce, which I did when I first started my business 20 years ago.

Smartest move I ever made, frankly. I put myself squarely out there and I'm social and sociable and I was doing something a little different. People took note. And in fact, that chamber event that I spoke at the very first time that was just so happened out of just me going to a chamber event.

Somebody said, Hey, you want to talk? I said, yes. And then they invited me to do a 20 minute talk, which in many respects kicked off my coaching career. I really believe that it's not so much about, I don't like networking just to network. I like to meet people and get to know people.

And I'm not the kind of person who's going to be handing out a business card unless I really feel some connection and that I might be of use and value to that person and maybe potentially in reverse. But honestly, it's got to feel like a fit. And then at that point, my general feeling is you nurturing these things really matters. I remember coming home from events and handfuls of business cards back in the day going, what am I supposed to do with these things?

It really is to me about just keeping yourself out there in many respects.

In my world, that's everything. And I mean, genuinely showing up, not phoning it in. But, being in a relaxed body, breathing in the moment, looking somebody in the eyes, if possible, if it's live in person and genuinely caring enough to connect with them. Genuinely wanting to be in that moment with them.

I really strongly believe that people will lean into you when you do that, and they will lean away from you when they can smell the dishonesty, the inauthenticity. So I know the nature of my work, certainly, my work as a coach and trainer and speaker and all has a great deal to do with dealing with the fears that we sometimes have showing people who we really are. Putting our voice genuinely out there for fear of being shot down in some way and made fun of or not being good enough. But I really sincerely believe that, you know, that kind of transparency, that kind of genuine authenticity, that willingness to really be present in the moment, listening, breathing.

That's what elicits that sense of trust. And that kind of trust is what builds relationships. I think about my accountant who I've been with for many, many years. He's all those things. And I trust him with my money, which if you knew me better, you would know, I'm really, I hold my money tight. So for me to trust him and, you know, with the ups and downs of the market, right?

I do that because he showed up as a real genuine human being with me and allowed me to do the same, and that allowed us to get to know each other, which allowed us to develop trust, and it's a relationship going on 20 years now.

And the first one is to be your true authentic self, because people can smell fake and people can smell it a mile away. And that's why, and it's kind of resonating with me. You know, before I hit the record button, my kind of static image on my Zoom when I don't have my video on has me kind of trying to be as authentic yet professional at the same time by showing like, Oh, I've got some tattoos.

And you commented on that, but like, I don't want to be, I'm not a stiff, wear a suit type of person. You know, I've got, I want to really showcase my personality while also adding as much value as I possibly can.

It's taken me years to realize that awareness of my financials gives me peace of mind and actually helps me build my wealth rather than fret about it.

It's been very empowering for me to realize that I can have ownership of all this.

And so I can go down the technical route or I can tell a story and find an analogy. And I always like to use the analogy of building a house. Like there's a lot of variables involved in building a house. And just like, you know, pick the type of flooring, the countertops, the windows, how many rooms. You know, like so many variables have an impact on the investment associated with the house.

And then when I explain that, it makes it a lot easier for them to understand that there's a lot of variables involved in building a website.

I very much believe in thought leadership and I within our agency, we practice what we preach. That's something that's very important to me and knowing that thought leadership is a great way to build your brand in a B2B space, I, like, I have to do that. As the owner, that is my job, that's my responsibility.

I started blogging, and I love writing, but I wasn't really good about being consistent with the writing. Video was fun, but then I was getting too worried about how I look. So that was my whole problem.

I'm over that, but you know, when I started I was interviewed on a friend's podcast. Another colleague of mine who also owns an agency. And he kept pushing me and just like, just do it, just do it. And I did it. And I'm like, Oh my God, that was so easy and so fun. And I don't have to worry about how I look and I could just be myself.

And so I decided podcasting was a channel that I was going to really lean into for my, my thought leadership. And, you know, I just noticed the other day that I've been doing this show for seven years now, which is crazy to me.

You're meant to claim the stage with everything that you've got and to use your beautiful gifts in service to others and make your difference on this planet. I believe that with all my heart.

I want you to go out there and get noticed.