Guilherme Cunha

If you’re Young

Before anyone goes to college an effective yet under utilized technique to meet new people and help figure out what you should do with your life is informational interviews.  The play is this: call people in the professions you are thinking of entering and simply meet with them to ask them some questions.

How do you find these people?

* Do your research

Google is the gateway to all professions and information about them. Research any associations that target your future industry. Anyone who picks up the phone will be able to connect you to marketing and communications directors or member representatives.

* Ask your older family members

They have been on this earth longer than you and with that comes a network much bigger than yours. Ask them to ask their friends and business associates for a few minutes for you to meet with them.

* Ask your teachers and councilors

Teachers are likely to put in a lot of time to open doors for you and go out of their way to make sure you meet the right people. It is their job to help you.

Why are you doing this?

* Learn about the person you are interviewing

People love to talk about themselves. It is their favorite subject. Most people will be honored that you’d like to interview them about their rise to the top. The key is to listen to what decisions they made, how they made them and what they did to get them to their current level.  One of the most important things to look for is what they need. What is their pain? Who do they need to know? Along your journey you will surely meet people that you should connect with one another. Listen and potentially do something admirable for them later.

” If you can cure people’s business pain, you will be sought after for decades.”

- Guilherme Cunha

* Get you started and get some direction. [Connection for life]

If you spend 15 minutes with ANYONE, to talk to them intimately about what they’ve done to achieve their current success  you now have a contact and a potential new friend for life.  They will connect you to people and provide guidance when you most need it.

” Business is short. Life is Long. “

You don’t have to only look at it from a business standpoint. You never know what opportunities may arise in which you will need to ask that person for advice. Nurture relationships as if you were looking to meet friends and the B2B aspect will fall into place automatically. Get to know more people and increasing your network of friends and business associates.

* See if what they do is what you want to do.

You’ve lived your whole life with your teachers and parents asking you ” what do you want to be when you grow up? ” This is the perfect opportunity to analyze the life and work of different professionals and save yourself the heartache of studying 4 years for a profession you weren’t going to enjoy. Often times jobs and careers are not what they seem. This will allow you to get a sneak peak into your future or give you a comforting feeling to know you wouldn’t want to do this year AFTER year.

Questions to ask

How did you get started?

What made you decide to do what you are doing?

What is important to you?

What is the best/worst part of your job?

Who do you know that would be willing to sit with me for 5 minutes just like you did?

Note: Take notes. Never have I seen anyone be offended because you wanted to write down what they are saying.

After the meeting

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Send an actual postal service thank you letter. If they took the time to meet with you without any monetary gain you have the time to write them a letter and splurge on the stamp.

Do unto others

Keep in the back of your mind what you can now do for that person.

Pay it forward

Anyone that is struggling to find their way is looking for answers without asking any questions. If you conduct informational interviews and they work out for you suggest for others that you sense are in the same boat to do the same. Or only do it when asked for

advice. It is up to you, isn’t it?

If you’re not so young

Follow the above steps. If you’ve recently been laid off or want to start in a new career conduct informational interviews. Just like anyone would respect an outgoing 17 year old who is proactive about their career so too does the respect go to an individual like

yourself who wants to better their life and do something more rewarding. You will likely get more  ” no’s ” yet keep going. You truly only need 3 meetings and they will allow for even more meetings if you need them.

Depending on your credibility with others getting 3 meetings can go as smoothly as asking 3 people or take up to 12 attempts.

Fear not the numbers.

Accept them.

Put your head down and go to work.

You will pick your head up with 3 successful meetings and a new found vigor and direction.

See this post on referrals on how to overcome not being able to get in the door.

Anytime you push against ” what is ” and you resist ” what is ” you have more stress in your life because you won’t accept what is. Focus on what is and changing if you don’t like it other than thinking about the past.

- O.W

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Well done. W.O.W.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

the only thing sadder than a question not answered is a question not asked.

” I don’t know how much time I have but I have something to say. “

“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” - Albert Einstein