Relationship Building at the Speed of Batman

February 24, 2009 · Comments

The BatmanBatman has been very good to me. A few years ago, I mentioned that I liked Batman, and that led to a conversation with Michael Sampson, expert enterprise communities professional from New Zealand. We had a great conversation that day. Since that first conversation via Skype, I’ve seen Michael twice (once in Boston, and another time in San Jose). Through this relationship, I was able to review Michael’s book. I’m sure there’s much more to our relationship left to come. I have Batman to thank (partially) for that.

What I want to talk about is what this means in the sense of online relationships, in business development, in relationship management.

Mick Galuski

Mick Galuski By visiting comic stores from time to time, I stay attached to my sense of wonder, my appreciation of good line art, my taste for the fantastical. By visiting Mick’s store, I’ve built a relationship with Mick. We talk when I come in. He tweets out new releases that might appeal to me. I share the occasional business-related idea with Mick. I’ve never met people who are interested in comics that aren’t also bright, visionary, and forward-thinking. Because of this, I’m always appreciative of the chance to keep my finger on the pulse of the comic book industry. I do that through Mick’s store, and through reading a few publications.

Stadium Comics

Batman At It A week or two ago, I saw a really cool Batman action figure in a store. I’d never seen it before, but it was evidently related to JSA: The Liberty Files. I sent a Twitpic out into the ether of Twitter, just saying that I was in love with the statue. I think it’s the goggles, and the steampunk-like vision of Batman that excited me.

Imagine my surprise when the guys from Stadium Comics in Brampton, Ontario (Canada) sent me a message offering to send me one. These guys owe me nothing. They didn’t expect any kind of write-up. Heck, they don’t even have a website for me to point you to ( only a Facebook profile), so they couldn’t have done it for the hopeful publicity.

Maybe, just maybe, the guys were just nice, and thrilled that they could support a Batman lover like me. However, you know what? When I talk about Batman in a presentation (as you know I will), this story will come up. (Info that I found on the web about Stadium – Stadium Comics & Sportscards / 499 Main Street South / Brampton, ON L6Y1N7 / Phone: (905) 451-3751.)

Dave Dorman

Somehow, in all this Batman-based discussion, I also learned that famous Batman artist Dave Dorman was following me on Twitter. (I learned this from his wife, Denise Dorman, who’s also there.) Amongst other things, Dave has quite a killer collection of Batman art and I’m looking forward to visiting the next time I’m in Chicago (they’re a little ways away in Geneva). Score another for the Batman thing.

DC Comics and Zemoga

Kenny Lopez's Desk at DC ComicsA few weeks ago, Sven Larsen and DJ Edgerton met me outside 1700 Broadway, the headquarters of DC Comics. If you think I’m connected in social media circles, Sven is the me+20 of the comics world. Sven knows everyone in comics, it seems. We were in the hallway of DC, and we walked by former Marvel editor in chief, Bob Harras, and he just says, “Hey, Sven,” like they’d had coffee the day before. Everyone there knew Sven. So, in turn, I got a great visit.

Sven and DJ work at Zemoga, a really cool interactive agency, with offices in NY and Bogota, Colombia. They’ve got a great agency with all kinds of really cool stories. The thing is, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have sat still to hear about it, given the pace of my days. But because Sven was so generous with his time and with the chance to visit DC, and since DJ turned out to be equal parts interesting and fun, I really am glad we got together, and thrilled we hung out.

Here’s one of 13 videos shot during the trip:

Relationship Building and the Web

So if you’ve stuck with me so far, what I’m thinking about is this: we are in an unprecedented time, where our personal lives and our business lives blend. People can share more about themselves through their blogs, through Facebook, through Twitter, and other platforms, such that you can learn more about your prospective business colleagues. For instance, if you meet someone during an interview, of course they’re going to talk about what a hard worker they are. Is that so? Check his Twitter stream or his Facebook status. Does it line up?

Need that important meeting with Jeff Pulver? Maybe you can talk to him about music. He’s shown you what he likes on Facebook. It’s right there for you to work with.

With tools like Twitter and blogs and Facebook, we can learn more about the people we need to reach. For instance, I once was trying to connect to Len Devanna of EMC. It only took a quick scan of Len’s Twitter stream to realize that he was at a conference, that he needed more coffee, and that if I were to have contacted him at that very moment, it wouldn’t have been a very good phone call.

It’s like magic, really. It’s not new magic, but I swear that it’s something we’re not really looking at with enough rigor. How are you connecting with people? Are you finding ways in through their personal connections to you and your interests?

What’s your take?

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  • Hi Chris,

    Excellent post on building effective relationships. But I feel that with abundance of social media sites that help you connect with people, it becomes difficult to keep a track on our profiles on each and every site. I guess (as we use it) personal blog and twitter are the most effective ways of establishing connections.

    Since we try to explain complex concepts visually at VizEdu we concentrate more on the feedback that our viewers post on our blog and most of the time, they follow us on twitter. This way of building relationships has worked for us.
  • Actually, I believe that's how we connected. It's funny how general conversations can lead to various types of relationships from business oriented relationships (mentorships, b2b connections, etc.) to friendships or even further. I recall before we were even really acquaintances watching you post about what music you were into. Nearly everyone likes music, so plenty of people had things to say about what you were listening to (love or hate it) including myself. No longer do businesses have to set up meetings to connect. It puts smaller businesses and self-employed individuals on a more level playing field.
  • Chris, Awesome post. I love the fact that you shared your stories about different relationships that you built and how it influenced you. Relationships is what it is all about right now. Currently the customer is running things and the economy is tight. The key is to meet the customer on a level, that makes them feel like you (as a business) care. A great example of reaching customers on their level can be found in a post by Walter Pinson called Hyundai schools us on Relationship Marketing
  • (My 3 1/2 year-old son is totally crazy for Batman too, as he looks over my shoulder while I read your post.)

    As you noted with the folks at Stadium Comics, sometimes the giving is not about expecting anything in return. Just being the nice person around social media will reap its own rewards without expecting rewards directly.

    A few targeted acts of kindness to get something don't make up for scorched earth networking and burned bridges, but if you've sewn seeds of relationships everywhere (not being selective about who can give you what, who is directly related to your field, etc.), your network becomes self-sustraining and you never know what new opportunities crop up.
  • Erika Owens
    Great post, it really got me thinking.
  • "Batman!?! Did you say, Batman?" :)

    A very good experience to convey your point. I agree with you fully on the power of connecting and building relationships with others. My father and I were talking about this line of thought with another business owner who has a lot of investments in the Southern Illinois area. A lot of people who own businesses may not be able to say it like you do, but they know it takes building relationships to get ahead. It is the others who have not caught on that you have made your experience in blog posts like this, relatable. :)
  • What a great metaphor you've chosen; I'm sure many men can relate to it. I understand what you're saying, because as a fitness and nutrition expert, I have built relationships with people that have the same passion that I do but aren't necessarily in the same industry. You never know where you're going to find that person that helps you get to the next level, or enriches your life in some way. I love seeing creative examples like this. Thanks for sharing it.
  • Chris,

    It is a fine example, of having your interests known to others in Web 2.0 how to benefit. Without expressing your interests on sites like FriendFeed, Twitter, SocialSpark (ie IZEA's social media site), ) and Facebook, you would have missed this cool opportunity.

    I am learning about web marketing, but keeping my focus on relationships-before-sales is certain to keep me in the loop for the long term benefit. I only want to offer things that have value, that I would personally own and endorse, and leave the e-book Make-A-Million-On-The-Internet products to the mass marketers out there.

    With the current economy in the USA, value trumps salesmanship every time.

    Great video of 'inside DC Comics', thank you!

    Respectfully,

    Nicholas Chase
    www.twitter.com/nachase
  • Chris

    Couldn't agree more. The web tools we have at our disposal make it so easy to create a wide variety of relationships based on a common single passion. For you it was comic books, for me it may be cooking or just kicking around marketing ideas. None-the-less, when used and not abused, Facebook, Twitter, etc., are an opening to a world of folks you'd otherwise only imagine meeting.

    @TomMartin
  • Nice post, Chris... I've always felt like I was being watched.

    One thing that I routinely do is use Twitter search to find others who have similar interests as I do. It's a nice way to expand my network to those who I'm not likely to come across through other means.

    As example, I may search Summize.com for "Guitar" or "Drums" (I play both, albeit poorly :). I've come across some amazing people who I simply wouldn't have otherwise discovered. Our commonality is our love for making music (your Batman, if you will), and more often than not, a valuable relationship blossoms.

    Just wanted to share one of the ways I find new people to connect with and expand my network beyond traditional means.
  • I think you are right on. We just published an article on building relationships that stick http://oceangrand.org/building-nonprofit-relati... The article is focused towards nonprofits since we set up lots of them but can be applied in any business.
  • Paul Miser wrote an interesting blog about the combination of different aspects of your life when it comes to the online world yesterday. That, combined with this notion of relationship building, has got me thinking about the positive and negative affects of social media on our relationships. Anyone we meet online tends to have as much access to our personal information as they want. The more we allow ourselves to be "out there" in the social media world, the more information we open up to the public. This causes an interesting clash between privacy and networking. Suddenly we all know too much possibly?
  • So, I'm thinking that the social media networks have reduced the six degrees of separation down to about three. Through Twitter and other means, I've had interactions and contacts with folks that I would otherwise probably not have contact with.

    The Batman story is a great one because it reminds us that if we just work on being ourselves, and we pay just a teensy bit of attention, we can make things happen in ways that until now have been impossible (or at the least, improbable).

    Cheers

    George
  • So true, well said, I am so looking forward to your book coming out on the topic soon.

    Thanks for sharing!
  • I definitely agree that in today's age of technology, a blending of personal and professional life is very common. We can go to job interviews and look up the company and employees on LinkedIn. We can look someone up on Facebook and learn a lot just by their picture. I don't know if these capabilities are good or bad. It all seems kind of wrong, in a weird way. If you barely know someone, you expect that any information you find out will be on a strictly professional level, and thanks to social networking, that isn't necessarily the case. I have a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg. I wonder if there will be a line at all between personal and professional come a few years.
  • Anne Lapointe
    It's the Batman title that got my attention on your tweet. I'm not a particular fan of batman or any comics for that matter, but I have a younger brother who is. You mention that people who like comics are usually intelligent and creative. My brother fits that profile, hence the attraction to the title and wanting to read more about what you had to say today. I'm pretty new at all of this social networking phenomena and enjoy reading your comments on twitter so I can better understand how I can apply this one day for my own use. Thank you for this post that led me to read your linkedin profile and your book review of the week. I'm getting it more and more... Thanks!
  • Great post, Chris ! You absolutely nailed it. Thanks for your insight. I absolutely love the "not knowing" who might be listening and/or inspired in some small way by what you may have shared. Ether. Great word!
  • Like many people, I had tried Twitter and couldn’t get the hang of it – even Facebook status updates terrified me at first. Then someone said: “Try again. The great thing about Twitter is you can follow people you admire, see what they are talking about that moment, join in the conversation.” A thousand light bulbs went off in my head. There was a half-finished email sitting in my draft folder that I had been writing and revising for weeks, trying to connect with some influential person in my field. What on earth could I say that was interesting, relevant, not annoying? I hadn’t had a clue. Suddenly, it’s easy. If there’s something I can say that will move the conversation forward in an insightful, relevant engaging way, I join in. Otherwise, I wait for some other snippet to float by. Because it always does. Thanks once again, Chris
  • Nice post Chris - this remind me of an article I read a while ago at Fast Company - Take Your True Self to Work (http://www.fastcompany.com/resources/columnists...).

    It used to be that we went to work and tried to be just what our role required (ask me about my days in management consulting) and no more. More was messy, more was not seen as efficient or focused.

    What I've found as I've gotten further in to my career is that the 'more' is what allows us to make deep connections with people - to create trust and to find people we like...and wouldn't you rather work with the people you like and trust? Yes - everyone would.

    I have made what are seemingly random connections because of my interest in cooking, sailing, literature, music, politics...and all of those relationships are fun but more surprisingly some of them lead to opportunities, both personal and professional.

    And now, with tools like Twitter & Facebook, we can connect to people who share our interests faster than ever.

    Just recently, I made a comment on Twitter that interest in social media seemed to overlap with interest in food/wine and the Red Sox. Diane Hessen, the CEO of Communispace, responded that it was almost time for spring training. Now I've never met Diane but I happened to know that Communispace has a Red Sox themed conference room so I (somewhat jokingly) suggested she have a tweet up for the first spring training game. She thought that was a great idea....so tonight - Diane is hosting a tweetup to watch the first spring training game (want to attend? http://twtvite.com/mggj16). Then I found out she loves a cookbook I do...and then I found out she is on the board of the Boston Philharmonic which I went to see on Sunday. All via Twitter. Still haven't met the woman but you can be sure I'll have a lot to talk to her about tonight!
  • I have to agree Chris, I have found some incredible connections through online interactions. It's the ability to get to know WHO someone is before you get to the WHAT of your agenda. I have always preferred to do business with people that I enjoy, can have great conversations with and connect to. Yep, this is definitely a new age!
  • The power of instant communication with people all around the globe with shared interests is awesome.

    Blending online social/business networking with offline networking, using online networking to boost offline sales, the full blended networking principle is definitely the future... and the past: I'm fortunate enough to have been running an online social network since 1995 that is now fully blending the real world (with social events from 5-500 people) with the online worlds of its users. It's a fascinating development and really works very well.

    Props to blended networking!
  • J, you got me thinking now. Maybe he's like a dolphin - half his brain sleeps during the day (the Batman half, obviously), and the Bruce Wayne half dozes off at night. What do you think?

    PS Wish I could do that. :D
  • I love learning and being around people smarter than me so I tend to seek out the appropriate conferences, conventions, etc., that enable me to drench myself in all the teaching/learning venues I can, as opposed to socializing and nurturing relationships. I've noticed I don't crave RE venues! Whoops. You remind me I need to push myself out of my cave and be a bit more sociable ... live and in person.
  • Josh Hurlock http://twitter.co
    Chris,

    Love the Batman connection, providing useful information with some fun. Social media enables meeting and connecting with people you otherwise probably would never meet. This shows how the Internet and social media are making an impact. At the same time, the Internet and social media are helping young entrepreneurs and businesses make an impact by getting their brand out there. Keep up the excellent work.
  • Great post I have always utilized insights gained about my business partners and prospects, by learning as much as I could about their current Interests, educational background. The demographics of the communities in which they operate etc. To build a relationship based on commonality wherever I found It. Your post really illustrates the power of social media to expand and exponentially accelerate this process. Thanks for sharing your experience and insights
  • Beth Stromski
    Chris-
    this was a great post.
    Thanks!
    b.
  • Chris, I didn't know you were into comics! I'm a comics nerd, too. And I am Crazy. Jealous. of your visit to DC HQ! You are so lucky!
  • David_N_Wilson
    It really is funny. I met Greg Verdino on Twitter. We connected and stayed connected, and I also met his lovely lady Amanda Gravel. After thoroughly connecting on Twitter, I learned that back when I was president of the Horror Writer's Association - Greg was a member. We have now re-connected over that, as well as on other levels...and there is a basis for more.

    The thing is that the people I genuinely like, I feel comfortable and excited working with, and the work is always more productive.

    You are certainly right that we have not given a rigorous enough look at the depth of relationships we build on the web, and the way they interconnect.

    Great post...and with Batman! Always a plus.
  • I'd say a lot of what comes to you must at least in part be attributable to your celebrity status. But the fact that you earned it by pursuing your interests passionately is a lesson worth remembering. Makes me think of Johnny Bunko.

    I too was raised on comics. Eating them would have sustained me. I still have a trunk of thousands downstairs. But this post wasn't about comics. It was about networking. Fudging the lines between business and pleasure. Being social offline. And I do that too.
    My design firm just started working with our favourite food retailer in the city (Fiesta Farms–a dream client for us because of their local and sustainable agenda) because my wife asked a cashier if she could talk to the owner one day while checking out.
    We work with Sympatico because I met an interesting individual at an event we were running for Bell–at breakfast, over a bagel, and he reached out through Linked in the next day.
    We're a small firm that gets to work for big companies by connecting with the people in those companies.

    My take is that there's no substitute for connecting with individuals on a personal level whether you do it in person or through social media.
  • Great stuff Chris - as a comics and Batman fan myself I enjoyed the story and liked how you tied the overall relationships message.
  • Relationships and networking online is unparalleled, it snowballs but in a good way. When I have recruiters/companies call me after finding me on facebook/linkedin/twitter I have assurance that they really know what they are getting.
  • For me the availability and now, ubiquity, of web publishing tools is both liberating and constricting. On the one hand, the possibilities of connection are unprecedented. However, once public display of those connections is expected and its absence conspicuous or even incriminating ("For instance, if you meet someone during an interview, of course they’re going to talk about what a hard worker they are. Is that so? Check his Twitter stream or his Facebook status. Does it line up?"), the whole dynamic changes....my last couple of blog posts address this...
  • Hi Chris,

    Just a couple of months ago I was doing all of the contacting and asking for friends requests. I'm amazed at how fast my online relationships have been changing, and how I'll now receive many requests each day to be added as a contact.

    As a rule, I'll accept all friends requests. Everyone is unique, and I'm able to learn something from everyone I meet. I didn't know that you were into batman, and at the same time you probably didn't know that I'm into HotWheels.

    Neither of us would have known this if it were not for the online relationship that we can so easily establish.

    Thanks for the post. It can be a lot of fun I let it ;-)
  • I like this entry. The Batman video was interesting and your view on social media is right on point. I think that Facebook and Twitter lets us expand our relationships for later experiences and travels. I met you and now I read your blog. I would have never known who you were.
  • I have made more and better connections with people via social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogs than I used to make by attending lots of "networking" events. The relationships are longer lasting, as they can be instantly refreshed with each new interaction.

    This doesn't just work for personal relationships. It works beautifully for businesses that thrive on building relationships with their customers as a foundation for ongoing success.

    I find that the best relationships are with those that I have actually connected with in some way via the offline world - met at an event, talked on the phone. Combining online and offline is magic!

    Thanks for the post and the great examples, Chris.
  • Hey Chris, :)

    S'funny, I read the headline of your blog post and my mind raced. It jumped out of my head flew back in time 5months, over the ocean into the US and bam landed in New York for the 2nd day of of the Web 2 NYC conference.

    That conference stands out for a number of reasons, first of all because I met up with a whole bunch of my Social Media heroes as it were (yourself included), second of all because from there and well into BlogWorld the following weekend in Vegas I became known as 'That British Social Media Guy' and *finally* because I heard the most wonderful question I ever did hear.

    On the second day, while in an online brand/personal relationship session with a certain Mr Solis on the panel, a guy stood up - exclaimed what he did for a living (started low at a company doing dev work, they had no web/twitter presence, took up the mantle, now does it 24/7) and then put this to the panel..

    "Excuse me but, when does Batman sleep?"

    A fantastic question and one that still haunts me to this day.
    Your post, although nothing to do with that particular question resonates well with me. Thank you Chris, for continually shining a guiding light on moving things forward. Of late I've felt stuck in a rut and it just takes a great post like this to pick one off the floor, dust himself off and get on with things again.

    Keep up the good work sir, hopefully I'll run into you soon.

    Cheers,

    J
  • cbiggins
    Great post Chris, I really enjoyed it.
    I think thats where I am right now, trying to connect with people from all walks of life that share some common interest. I am mainly using Twitter for this, I find facebook and linkedin a little heavy for lite chit chat. It makes it so much cooler when they are from somewhere near you also.
    Thanks!
  • Never thought I would be reading about Batman here at chrisbrogan.com. Maybe I can have somebody send me some toys haha. Great post none the less.

    @bookerx3
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