Why your kids should talk to strangers

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The word “networking” is cringy. It can feel:

• Inauthentic

• Shallow

• Awkward 😬

Networking conjures up visions of sticky name tags and transactional conversation – pretty much everyone’s worst nightmare.

So I’m going to say this once, nice and loud, for the people in the back: 

Networking isn’t about getting people to do things for you.

It’s about growing authentic and meaningful connections.

So here at Prequel, when we talk about networking, what we’re really talking about is relationship-building.

Speaking of relationships – can you spare a few minutes to jump on Zoom and chat about Prequel?

Today, I’m going to share exactly how you can teach this skill to your kids. But first, let’s talk about why you should. 👇

Giver’s gain is real, y’all.

Networking is about generosity, so you better be willing to give.

For example:

👉 Say you decide to start a podcast.

👉 You can reach out to your network of and find tons of amazing people to interview.

👉 You’re giving them a platform and uplifting their work, while also getting your podcast off the ground. Win-win for everyone!

Networking is not about creating one-and-done connections.

It’s about building lasting relationships.

🗣️ BETA Camp alum, Fathima, doesn’t just reach out to her network when she wants something — she regularly connects with them, sending them updates about her life and showing interest in theirs.

If your kid has big dreams, they’re going to need help getting there.

You should encourage them to:

• Seek advice from people who have forged a path

• Build relationships with people they can rely on

• Find peers who can help them grow

Talking to strangers makes us happier 😀

Building a network isn’t just good for your kid’s future career prospects — it’s good for their well-being, too.

There’s growing recognition that in order to be happy, we need to develop stronger relationships (like this happiness challenge from The New York Times, which is all about relationships).

But being lonely isn’t just bad for your mental health. It's bad for your physical health, too. In fact, studies show it’s as bad for you as:

• Smoking

• Obesity

• Physical inactivity

We need to teach kids how to build relationships.

But researchers have also found something surprising: it isn’t just our strongest relationships that stave off loneliness.

It’s all the weak social ties, too — the tiny day-to-day interactions we have with strangers.

These include:

• The classmates your kids sit next to

• The neighbors they always wave to while walking the dog

• A random kid they’re standing next to in the lunch line 👋

Polina Pompliano, the writer behind The Profile, says that these weak social ties help us build community and learn new things:

“Weak ties bring surprise and novelty. You could learn something new or meet someone wildly fascinating.... Those frequent opportunities for connection might actually be one of the most valuable parts of your day.”

Meeting interesting people + having interesting conversations = the purpose of networking.

Turns out, maybe you should tell your kid to talk to strangers (in safe settings, of course).

Challenge them to:

🧃 Sit next to someone new at lunch

🍎 Stay after class to get to know their teachers

🤝 Introduce themselves to someone in their class

How to build a network of authentic, powerful relationships.

Our students embrace the value of networking:

👉 Fathima has mastered the art of cold email. It’s helped her find mentors who can guide her in her career and even land an internship (while still in high school!).

👉 Kate has sent countless Twitter DMs. As a result, she now has thousands of followers and has gotten the attention of some impressive business leaders.

👉 Andy interviewed over 200 video game streamers to learn more about his target audience for his business.

👉 Jane (my sister!) DM’d dozens of small beauty brands on Instagram to get her first graphic design clients, making thousands of dollars in just a few months at age 15.

So how exactly can your kids start doing the same?

Isaac Serwanga, author of How to Network in College, shares three strategies for networking in his TED talk. 👇

1) State what you want.

“Whether you’re a college graduate or in elementary school, what do you want, and who can help you attain that?” asks Isaac.

✍️ Write down a list:

• Roles you aspire to be in

• Companies you want to work for someday

• Skills you want to learn

Your list will help you find out who you need to reach out to in order to achieve your goals.

2) Ask for it with competency and humility.

Isaac says that there are two critical components to asking for help:

1. Competency — know what you’re talking about.

2. Humility — if people don’t like you, they won’t help you.

Before you reach out to someone, do your research.

You won’t know what questions to ask if you don’t know anything about this person, the role, or the company they work for.

And to approach them with humility, Issac suggests giving more than you ask for in a relationship:

“If we can learn how to give more, if we can reach out to someone and ask how we can help, it puts us in a position to succeed.”

3) Be persistent.

“The most common word in networking is the word ‘no’,” says Isaac.

You might reach out to 100 people and only get one or two responses. That’s why you have to be willing to persist.

Remember: you only need one person to say “yes” in order to change your trajectory. 💫

Until next time,

Ivy

CEO Prequel, BETA Camp, Apollo

Follow my journey on LinkedIn