Who I Am

Audio Version

Hi everybody. Recruiting Animal here on June 16 2010.

I was on the Recruiter House Party last week and the host was someone I like to think of as the greatest recruiter in Hawaii, the famous Maha Akiki. She keeps telling me that she's Lebanese but Maha sounds like Aloha to me.

Anyway, in case you didn't hear me, I'm going to play you a little clip from that show right now so you can see what it was like.

You see, her goal was to bug me about who I Really am and I told her the truth: this is me. But I have to admit that I didn't elaborate because I'm a modest man and I was there to discuss issues not my personality.

But I felt that my resistance really put a damper on things so I'm going to answer her question now.

Every now and then I do hear people say: "I met Animal at Recruitfest and he was really different. Why is that? What's going on?"

Well I'll tell you. If you meet me at Recruitfest you'll see that I'm a mild mannered recruiter who minds his own business. That's me. I have nothing to say to strangers and I'm not good at parties.

That's why I always ask my guests what they do at networking events when they don't know anybody. And, usually, I get answers that aren't of any use to me.

Remember, last week, the guest said: "Well I sit down at the table and tell everyone I have a boat and then I regale them with a lot of sailing stories."

Well that's not me. That's not me. How do I know you want to hear my life story or my political opinions? You know, I go to Starbucks in the morning just to get some peace and people always start telling me their personal business and I don't like it. But in regular life I'll put up with it. I told you I'm mild mannered.

But not on this show. Not on this show. And you know why?

Because I'm not here to make you feel good. And I'm not here to listen to baloney. I'm here on a mission.

Three years ago I decided that I would create a podcast and the guiding idea was this: If someone forced you to listen to it for an hour, you wouldn't feel the urge to kill yourself just to get out of doing so.

So it's not supposed to be monotonous. It's not supposed to be boring and it's not supposed to fill the air with incomprehensible jargon.

But I said to myself when I started: Animal you don't have a team of flunkies to screen out the dead wood in advance of the show. And you don't have a team to teach your guests how to be interesting before they appear.

So you have to do it yourself - on air - as the show is going on.

So, at Recruitfest, yes I'm a regular Clark Kent. But on the animal show, I'm Stanley Kowalski!

And the people who are attracted to this show are Vulgarians with a Purpose, just like me - fighting a never ending battle for truth, justice and, dare I say it, authenticity!

So, all you sissies, abandon ship! 'Cause, Jerry Jerry, what show is this?

Comments

[Maureen Sharib]

Tell us more. Yours is a fascinating story. Really.

[Jill Elswick]

It's the Recruiting ... Animal ... Shoooooooooooooooooow!!!!!!!!

Nice statement Animal.

[Jill Elswick]

Animal:

The secret to conversation with strangers at events is very, very simple. Ask them questions. About anything. Assume there's a kernel of interest in everyone. With boring people, it helps to challenge yourself to find out one interesting thing about that person. If your first questions lead nowhere, change the subject. Even the dullest person has a story. If you're lucky, you'll find someone who has a talent for asking questions in return. That's all there is to it.

As for talking to strangers in public places like Starbucks or airplanes, I don't like it either. The tendency of certain people to "trap" others in conversation, simply because they're occupying the same public space, is annoying to the extreme.

[Akiki]

But, Animal, when you *become* a personality - like you have - your personality becomes the issue. Besides, my goal was not to bug you, but to psychoanalyze you, wasn't it?
Now, you're not fooling anyone when you say that you are "a mild mannered recruiter who minds his own business." We said you're nice, don't push it!!

:)

[Neal Schaffer]

Rock On Animal, Rock On! You are a great example of an entertainer...they are rarely "in character" when we meet them in real life, and we shouldn't expect they are. You've gotten to where you are because you are good at doing what you do...keep on doing it, and your true fans will support you, even if we meet you in real life!

Neal Schaffer
http://windmillnetworking.com

[Recruiting Animal]

But, Neil, I'm not successful

[Cathy]

Wonderful blog - I hate to use that term as it is so overused. However, the article was enlightening, well thought out (of course) and a great representation of who you think you are. How others perceive you may be a different story. Love your show!

[Janice Worthington]

Animal - Your way of forcing people to make a point or get to the point is invaluable.Lots of BS in the world and in biz, especially in job search, and it's self-defeating... Ok so I yell at my job seekers each Wednesday afternoon after the show...and in my teaching seminars I scream "Example! Example! Example!" But by Thursday I'm sorta back to normal waiting patiently for next Wed.! If people "get" what you're doing there's so much to be learned. And the show's so much fun!

Jerry you're one of the best recruiters I've listened to in ages...

Thanks guys! Janice @execjobcoach