Scott Gerber - Building Community through Connections

“Real relationships take real time, and you cannot cheat real time." - Holly Peppe, Managing Director of Peppe Communications, Inc. How is networking different from connecting? What insights are attained from dissecting a failure? Why is responding with a thoughtful "No" to an invitation or request at times not only acceptable, but recommended? Join host Chris Schembra in this week's episode of his podcast series, 7:47 Conversations, as he welcomes Scott Gerber, co-author of the recently released book, 'Superconnector: Stop Networking and Start Building Relationships That Matter' (published by Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2018), a follow-up to his previous title, 'Never Get a "Real" Job: How to Dump Your Boss, Build a Business and Not Go Broke' (published by Wiley, 2010.) In addition to being a successful author, Mr. Gerber is the Founder of YEC, an organization for young entrepreneurs, as well as the CEO and Co-Founder of global branding firm The Community Company, and an internationally syndicated columnist, who recently became a monthly contributor for Adweek. As this episode's conversation unfolds, Mr. Gerber shares how his mission to create community and assist others evolved after he experienced and parsed a business failure. Quoting MastermindTalks.com founder Jayson Gaignard, "When all else fails, you are left with two things... your word and your relationships." By evaluating the people you selectively surround yourself with, and wisely allocating the resources of these individuals, Mr. Gerber believes that your footing for business success is on much firmer ground. Along with business partner Ryan Paugh, with whom 'Superconnector' was co-written, Mr. Gerber promotes the concept that every brand benefits from building and championing a community of advocates. These highly engaged "Brand Ambassadors" create awareness and amplify messaging, which drives greater consumer loyalty within their communities. Leveraging this level of engagement requires a shift away from the conventional marketing mindset and its focus on vanity metrics, especially in this Social Media-driven age. According to Gerber, "It's not the way you act; it's the way you are. It's not the way you see something; it's the way you see." Valuable advice for how we approach our personal relationships, as well. In 2015, the 7:47 Club was founded by Mr. Schembra to create a conversational environment promoting Authenticity ~ Empathy ~ Vulnerability ~ Safety. In sparking dialogue between people from disparate backgrounds and experiences, with different interests and viewpoints, a sense of community has formed within this shared experience, creating real understanding and an acceptance of others. Through this podcast, a wider audience will now learn about the 7:47 Club’s incredibly important mission. Listening to others and learning about ourselves... The 7:47 Club welcomes you.