20A- Growing Your Social Capital

20A- Growing Your Social Capital 

Domain Expert:

1. Who they are, what their background is:
1. Cassidy, college student who attends the University of Florida. She is from Long Island, New York.

2. How this person is a “domain expert”:
1. Cassidy has the same aspirations as I do. She desires an airport in Gainesville that allows direct flights, and makes traveling easier. She does research on the side when booking flights to go home.

3. How I found and contacted this person:
1. I called her on her cellphone, and briefly interviewed her about her aspirations.

4. Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation:
1. I explained to her my opportunity at hand, as she acknowledged it is definitely one she would support. She also gave me more ideas as in who to contact next, etc.

5. How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
1. Including Cassidy enhances my ability to exploit my opportunity because it proves other people are looking for a solution as well. The fact that she is a college student too, gives me great credibility in who my prototypical customers are/would be.

Market Expert:

1. Who they are, what their background is:
1. I contacted my Uncle Tom. My Uncle Tom works for Delta Airlines, and is in and out of the airport daily.

2. How this person is a “market expert”:
1. This person is not a market expert, however they have expertise in this segment/ if my opportunity is possible, etc.

3. How I found and contacted this person:
1. I texted my Uncle to pick a time when he was available for me to call and ask him some questions.

4. Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation:
1. It was very easy, prior to our interview we caught up on family stuff and life. Then when I got to the questions, he was more than willing to help me think of ideas of how my opportunity came to life. He said Delta, in particular, already flies out of Gainesville Airport but does not do direct flights. He said he was going to speak with his manager as to why.
5. How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
1. This is someone who is in the Airline industry, around airports everyday, and sometimes even goes on the long, torturous connecting flights I am trying to rid of.

Industry Supplier:

1. Who they are, what their background is:
1. Todd Buckfar.
2. How this person is a “industry supplier”:
1. He works for numerous airline websites, specifically Just Fly. He sells very cheap and affordable flights.

3. How I found and contacted this person:
1. I contacted my dad and asked if he knew anyone in the industry. He then gave me Todd's number.

4. Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation:
1. I explained that I am in a class and have an opportunity at hand. I asked him why he does not think Gainesville has expanded, will it ever, how do I urge the airport to do so?

5. How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
1. Including him would enhance my ability in that he could offer flights to the Gainesville Airport through his services/ suggested airlines.

Finally: Reflect. This experience requires you to do a little 'targeted networking.' How will this experience shape how you participate in any future networking events? Did this experience differ from your networking experiences in the past? How?

Targeted Networking made me realize how essential having "connections" is. Yet, the most important part is being able to communicate and reach out to those connections. Although conversation with some of the connections was awkward at first, I realized these individuals really just wanted to help me.