047 - Say "Yes, And!" to Human Connection with Thom Singer

Human connection is becoming a competitive advantage - especially as AI, automation, and digital overload keep pulling us away from real relationships. In this episode, I sit down with Thom Singer. Thom is a keynote speaker, community-builder, and CEO of the Austin Technology Council, and we talked about Human Interaction (H.I.) in an A.I. world. We unpack why "networking" isn't something you do once in a while, it's something you live, why introverts may actually have an edge, and how the best opportunities often come from relationships you started building years ago. We also go into Thom's personal story of navigating a mental health crisis during the pandemic, what it really means to ask for help, and (because Thom is Thom) the wild decision he made to start doing stand-up comedy at 52 - and what that taught him about resilience, confidence, and being better on any stage. Key Takeaways The term "Networking" has baggage - focus on human connection and intentional relationships instead. The best time to build your network is before you need it ("dig your well before you're thirsty"). Introverts often make better connectors because they ask more questions and listen more deeply. Meeting someone once doesn't make them "in your network," it makes them someone you've met once. Community and career resilience grow when you help others without keeping score. Asking for help isn't weakness, it's leadership (and sometimes the turning point). Stand-up comedy is "public speaking on hard mode," and it can sharpen every other communication skill. Relevant Links Thom Singer's website: https://thomsinger.com/ Thom's TEDx page (including his talk about asking for help): https://youtu.be/KtuIppR84MY?si=PaQHjNJI8lLd0LVC Thom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomsinger/ Thom's podcast: "Making Waves at the C-Level" (and archive of older episodes): https://thomsinger.com/podcast/  Join My Book Launch Team! My new book, "Say, 'Yes, And!' to Change" is coming out this April. I'm assembling a Launch Team for my upcoming book on using the Yes, And mindset to harness change, unlock brilliance, and transform apathy into excitement. Launch Team members will receive: - A free digital advanced copy of the book in late March - Access to a free YES AND training - A few bonus resources - The warm fuzzy feelings you will get from helping me out 😁 All I ask is that you read the book and leave an honest review a few weeks later. To cut down on SPAM and bots filling out the Launch Team Form, I am not posting the link publicly. Email me now at [email protected] with the word "Launch" in the subject and I will send you the sign-up link!