I had a blast at a recruiting conference in New Orleans last week.
Last year's takeaway was tactical. We defined our scope and focused on patent litigation. We stopped trying to be everything to everyone and instead built depth. With that focus, over the last year we've worked with patent litigation associates, counsel, and partners to build a platform that will grow their practice.
This year's takeaways were more personal.
Mentorship Matters
Mentorship is a two-way street. In a relationship-driven business like recruiting, mentors probably won't seek you out. If you admire someone, initiate a connection and approach them with curiosity. By taking an interest in others and showing how you think, the right people will reciprocate.
Presence Pays
A personal brand and even modest online presence creates approachability. I was pleasantly surprised by how often someone walked up and said they'd seen my LinkedIn posts. And when I introduced myself to new groups, almost every time someone already had context. Even a modest presence builds familiarity, and I found that familiarity helped me be more confident in rooms full of strangers.
Kindness Wins
Success and kindness often go together. The most successful people I met were also the most welcoming. They were having fun, engaging, had an abundance mindset when meeting others, and were just kind. High performance and kindness are not mutually exclusive.
Conclusion
Entrepreneurship can be demanding. Being in rooms with people further along shows what's possible.
Here's what stuck with me: mentorship requires initiative, a modest online presence builds real confidence, and the most successful people are often the kindest. These lessons weren't on the agenda, but they were the ones worth bringing home.
No conference photos this time, but plenty of NOLA memories. And one very sweet (big eater girl) travel companion.
If you're heading to your next conference, approach it with curiosity and don't be afraid to initiate those connections.
