I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. Visit my profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/shalomklein
Warm Regards,
– Shalom Klein
The Best Networker I Know
Thanks, Jeff Segal, for the very kind blog post. See the original blog here.
Ask any startup founders how they met, and you’ll probably hear something along the lines of “Well, I knew a guy who’d worked with her, then we ran into each other at TechCocktail and she introduced me to …”
The startup community is networking nirvana.
Yet the best networker I know doesn’t run a startup. He works for a Skokie-based family accounting firm. But—in his spare time—he leads a networking group that’s grown from zero to more than 18,000 members in just two and a half years.
The group is Jewish B2B Networking, and its founder is a soft-spoken guy named Shalom Klein, who claims, “Really, I can only take credit for setting up the coffee and cake at our events.”
That’s a lot of coffee and cake. Jewish B2B hosts events nearly every week, in the city and suburbs, with anywhere from handfuls to hundreds of attendees. New postings pepper their job board daily, and they’re busy planning for their second annual business leaders’ trip to meet with administration officials and legislators in Washington.
And it all started from a single lunch. Klein explains, “I realized many of our clients, friends, and family needed to meet each other, so I planned a lunch at Slice of Life restaurant in Skokie. While I expected 20 people to attend, 75 people turned out. I walked into my neighborhood Starbucks the following day and saw three meetings going on from the day prior.”
A startup that grew so quickly from 75 users to 18,000 would probably be in line for some serious funding, but Jewish B2B is strictly a non-profit enterprise. Many of their events are free, and, in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to be Jewish to join.
“Business owners and job seekers—both Jewish and people from all faiths—are finding out about our resources, educational programs, and events, and are taking advantage,” says Klein. “Tens of thousands of business connections have been formed, and hundreds of jobs have been filled.”
Like most successful entrepreneurs, he makes it sound simple, even inevitable.
But building a network with the size and impact of Jewish B2B, in just two and a half years—in his spare time—makes Shalom Klein a networker extraordinaire.
Enjoying coffee with my good friend, Aaron Jaffe, Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board
Read my interview in the Las Vegas Review Journal: Even in Business, Helping Creates Its Own Reward
A wave of abundance, with the exception of rejections, rarely washes over a job-seeker. Everything else seems in limited supply, including contacts. Enter a person who freely gives you one. Should you do more than write, telephone or email thanks?
Some people feel obligated to send a token of thanks to express their appreciation. However, some relationship-builders don’t expect much of anything in return, because their joy comes from helping people get from Point A to Point B by giving them a good contact.
Larry Buchsbaum, the Marblehead, Mass., owner of LBVentures, provides outsourced marketing and business development for CPA and law firms and is currently job-hunting. His more than 600 LinkedIn contacts are people he knows. He’s so “happy to share” that he recently found himself giving an introduction even to a job-seeker who could have been a competitor.
Normally, Buchsbaum freely shares a contact, but this time he also asked himself if helping out could have a negative impact on him. When he realized the two would be looking for different jobs, he continued giving.
He sums up his philosophy on good contacts with “the more the merrier.” Today is light years away from early in his career when he felt he was “panhandling” and “unnatural” while job-hunting in an environment without established relationships.
Shalom Klein, chairman of Jewish B2B Networking Inc. in Skokie, Ill., receives calls and resumes every day from people — more than 1,600 to date — who don’t have jobs or don’t have jobs they want. He also helps business owners.
“I drink a lot of coffee every day,” he quips. When he hears from employers looking for people to hire, he digs into his database.
“I try to connect the dots, at least get them an interview,” Klein explains. “I can’t guarantee a job or a perfect fit, but close to 400 people have found positions. My satisfaction and compensation is a note of thanks or that they’re starting their job.”
He’s noticed, however, that people in career transitions have introduced him “to the most wonderful contacts or volunteer to help with events or projects I’m working on, and it’s been a fantastic resource.” Their LinkedIn recommendations help him promote his work.
Buchsbaum connects people automatically, without expecting anything in return. He’s even found himself giving contacts when he was supposed to be asking the other person for help in finding a job.
“If I’m walking into a room or a person sends an email and I know people and can introduce them, to me this is natural. It’s just what I do. I love connecting the dots. If you’re a connector, people view you that way, value the relationship and get to appreciate who you are and what you do and are willing to help.”
Neither of these men is looking for compensation. Their professional matchmaking is easy for them and comes without a fee. Klein doesn’t even feel cheated if he doesn’t receive an acknowledgment, because he derives satisfaction from putting people together.
Buchsbaum loves sending a person in the right direction and derives additional satisfaction from “the people who take the referral and run, get back to me and say it was a fantastic contact, because I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do.”
The next time you’ve been lucky to receive a contact, ask yourself whether you think the person really expects the favor returned. A thank-you may be enough. Meanwhile, start your own relationship-building and share the wealth.
By MILDRED L. CULP WORKWISE
Dr. Mildred L. Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. © 2013 Passage Media.
L'shana Tova and Happy New Year! Wishing you a year of happiness, health, and success!
Heart of Gold
John Jonelis – I knew something outstanding was going on, but when a friend raved about it, I had to stop procrastinating and find out more.
Shalom Klein founded and runs the JB2BN, which is a really cool acronym for the Jewish Business to Business Network. To gain an interview, I had to schedule a time slot. Shalom runs his entire day by increments. No wasted minutes. And I asked myself—what motivates him to work so hard helping others? 24-year-olds usually spend their time in more self-centered pursuits.
Q&A
Q – How did you go from an idea to the large organization you have today?
A – We have an accounting firm focused on small business. That led me into the world of networking, Chambers of Commerce, and meeting people.
In June of 2010, I did a lunch for our contacts. If you think about it, a photographer needs to meet a lawyer who needs to meet an accountant. Seventy people showed up.
So the next day, I walked into a Starbucks and saw five meetings going on from the day prior. I knew we were onto something BIG.
Now, many thousands of people are involved in the JB2BN. Upwards of 15,000 people have come out of our programs so far.
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5,000 People
My goal is not that everybody attend every event. Most of ours draw 75-100 people—small business owners, job seekers. It’s about meeting people—developing relationships that are the key to helping our community.
But we offer some pretty outrageous things, like The Business Event—an free annual expo. This year, 5,000 people showed up.
Q – Give me a picture of it.
A – I have to keep this a little bit brief because I have somebody calling me in a few minutes.
- A Business Expo, which I believe is the largest one around the Midwest.
- A Job Fair with 30 employers that are hiring on the spot.
- 3 workshops going on simultaneously at the top of every hour.
- A total of 18 workshops during the day.
Q – What kind of workshops?
A – Marketing, networking, resumes, interviewing, cover letters, speed networking, LinkedIn, everything under the sun. They’re all posted on our website.
There’s a free employment clinic running at all times. The workshops, include some very prominent speakers.
Q – How did you find a venue for 5,000 people?
A – It’s been a work in progress. The first year we did it at the Holiday Inn in Skokie. We had 2,500 people. I called all the neighborhood businesses to tell them, “Hey, we’re not-for-profit. Please don’t tow our cars.” We clearly outgrew that space.
The next year we did it at a mall. I figured malls have a lot of parking space. So I partnered with the mayor of the Village of Lincolnwood. He said, “I’ll set you up in the town center.” And sure enough, he did. And it was a great, great event but we quickly outgrew the space. We even arranged a shuttle bus that ran from the mall to another venue for workshops.
The mayor of Evanston was on my case saying, “How can we get something like this here in town?” I said, “Hey, find me a space and I’ll do it.” They got me Evanston High School, which is a gorgeous facility, a huge facility, and they have a brand new field house. It worked out fantastic. We actually ran out of parking half way through the day.
I’m gonna have to start working on next year’s event. But it’s a good problem to have. I’m beyond thrilled with the outcomes, with the progress that we’ve made and I’m looking forward to next steps.
Q – How big can it grow?
A – What we’ve been doing has attracted a lot of attention. I’m very proud of the successes. The numbers are important but the outcomes are far more important. The one thing everybody shares is the need to put food on the table.
And the reason any organization goes viral is that you’re talking about the right issue at the right time. I hear success stories every day. I meet people who have found jobs. I hear of people who are now working together simply because we connected the dots!
We don’t spend a penny on advertising. We don’t do any marketing. People come to us. WLS Radio, 890 and 94.7 approached me about partnering on this year’s event. They came to the event and promoted it for free through their vast media channels. We’re a grass roots community organization. It’s my goal to continue to grow and develop that way.
Q – Will you expand to other cities?
A – We already have. We’re running events in Milwaukee, Detroit, and St. Louis. Cleveland is inquiring. My goal is to expand around the Midwest—not nationwide. There are so many businesses synergies that should meet.
Q – So you send other point-people out to do the logistics at those locations?
A – We’ve got a good committee of people who are helping to promote the event and work on the logistics but I try to be in as many places as I can.
Shalom_Klein JB2BN
Q – How do you find time for all of that?
A – My other passion is time management. Every minute of my day is occupied in some way, which is why I’m so careful about scheduling these calls and giving everyone my full attention. I even schedule picking up my dry cleaning. I have all the events on the calendar. It’s an important thing to me. This is a passion. You probably hear that in my voice.
Q – Yeah. I really do.
A – I’m also chairman of the Skokie Economic Development Commission. I’m very involved in attracting businesses to our area. I started the Dempster Street Merchants Association. I was appointed by the mayor and I’m very involved in that effort. You make time. The busy people only get busier, right?
Q – And they’re the ones you go to when you need to get something done. How much more time do you have left for me?
A – Another ten, fifteen minutes.
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The How To
Q – How do you launch a first-time event?
A – We had one this morning at a place called The Plugin Workspace. It’s an incubator for startup businesses in Highland Park. This morning’s event was called, “Networking and Coffee,” and it was just that.
One of our members said, “I’ve been coming to your events. How can I put on one?” I said, “Easy. Open up your space and provide some kosher refreshments.” And sure enough, that’s what he did. And we had something like fifty people who came out in the awful weather to mingle.
Q – What does your event schedule look like?
A – We do three events a week—
- One dedicated to jobs
- One business
- One education
And by we, I don’t just mean me. I mean people who volunteer—people who dedicate their time, talent, and energies to making this organization a success. We don’t have any paid staff people at all.
Q – Tell me about the job program.
A – It’s both networking and education. Job clinics. Career counselors offer free support and training in all sorts of skills that help people find jobs.
It’s about people meeting each other, but I believe equally in getting people the information and resources they need so they can have a productive job search.
Job Board on JB2BN Website
Q – Who’s your target audience for education?
A – Both businesses and job seekers. Everybody needs information and education. These days you can’t find a job without being expert in Microsoft Office—Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and skills like that. We have volunteers that come in and teach classes.
If someone owns a business and wants to brush up on their skills or if somebody’s in transition and wants to become more polished, we have classes for them. We offer workshops on how to build a free website in WordPress. One on how to use Google Apps to create an email account for yourself. Very basic skills, but skills that are key, whether you need a job or own a business and just want to become better at what you do.
Q – By the very name of your organization, you’re up-front that it’s a Jewish group. Do you have to be Jewish to come?
A – No. Growing up as a kid I learned that the highest form of charity is helping somebody earn their own livelihood. I try to practice that. So the organization is open to everyone regardless of walks of life, politics, or religion and I’m very proud of that identity but it’s a question I get all the time.
Q – How do you make a living out of this?
A –I don’t. That’s never been my goal. Not my plan at all. My hope is that God continues to give me the strength to wear two hats—run and grow our family business and continue to build the organization. The organization is not intended to be monetized in any way. It should help people. That’s my goal.
Q –How does the JB2BN self-sustain?
A – Grass roots. It’s always been my dream to build an organization that’s driven, not by paid staff, but by people that step up to the plate. Last week’s events with so many thousands of people, we needed the support to greet people, register, check people in, and run the events. When I issued a call to action to my organization, 35 people volunteered. They manned the registration tables, greeted the visitors, and made sure everybody knew where they were going. When we want to put on an event and need a host, people step up to the plate.
So I only take credit for setting up the coffee and the cake at some of our events.
Q – It doesn’t sound that way to me. Sounds like a lot of logistics.
A – Well, occasionally it’s a little bit of logistics but it comes together really, really nicely. We have a few businesses that step up to the plate. They provide sponsorships to cover the minimal costs of running the organization and allowing us to grow.
It’s all-important stuff. Things that I’m quite passionate about. It’s a pleasure to do it. I hope you’ll be able to come out to one of these events. I always want more people involved.
Q – I’d like that. On your website, you show a picture of a child’s string telephone. What’s with that?
A – (He laughs.) Here’s what it means: “It doesn’t matter how far technology or social media has developed—you have to get out there and network!”
I spent Saturday night registering people to vote at Congregation Or Torah in Skokie
Have you watched my appearance on ABC / JUF's show "Sanctuary" on young leaders making a difference?
Have you seen the story WBEZ did on my work in the community? Tackling Jews’ Economic Woes, One Business Card At A Time
It’s hard to feel like there’s much any of us can do to help fix our economy these days. But in north suburban Skokie, an unlikely young man is taking a stab at it by playing a sort of business matchmaker within his Jewish community.
If you encounter a 22-year old college graduate at a job fair these days, you’d expect to hear a tale of woe. Endless job searches, fruitless leads, and a mountain of college debt. Well, not so with Shalom Klein.
At a job fair at North Side College Preparatory High School last week, he was the guy soliciting resumes. Often from people much older than him, which he says felt a bit weird sometimes.
Klein’s appearance belies his young age. He wears a beard, a suit, he has a yarmulke on his head in the tradition of observant male Jews, and he carries a leather-bound folder.
Klein’s here to recruit people like Don Richie — a technical writer — and also some of the companies here, to his job fair. It’ll be Thursday night in Skokie. It’s called The Business Event. It’s the culminating event of an organization Klein started a year ago, called Jewish B2B Networking.
Klein questions Richie about what kind of work he’s looking for.
“Well, I’m a technical writer,” Richie said. “Really, so instruction manuals…?” “That’s right,” Richie said. “Oh, you know what a technical writer does. That’s great.”
Klein started it to hook up small businesses in Chicago’s Jewish community. Most of them are on Chicago’s North Side and Skokie. It’s his own sort of Jewish “stimulus plan.”
“Having gone to school in Rogers Park, living in Skokie, I see Devon Street, I see Dempster, and I see the all the vacant storefronts, I see the crime that’s going up, and I completely attribute that to the strain of businesses and the numbers of people that are unemployed,” Klein said.
Klein’s fix: networking. It may sound simplistic, but he thinks it leads to jobs and economic growth.
“I don’t have a background in economic development and job creation, I’m not a career coach. But I’ve come up with more of the … I guess the on-the-street version of how to address the problems.”
In fact, Klein’s background is in something entirely different. He went to college to be a rabbi. There’s another reason he seems an unlikely candidate to take on these big issues:
Klein had to apply for a job himself when he was working in New York, but count himself as fortunate as he works in a family business.
Klein works at his dad’s accounting, bookkeeping and debt-collections firm. He’ll probably run it after his dad retires. So he’s never had to worry about unemployment like many of the people he tries to help. But Klein says the idea for Jewish B2B came from expanding his family business. He went on a big networking spree to find new small business clients.
“I realized that so many of our clients, friends, and family, needed to connect with each other. A realtor needs a photographer to take pictures of their listings, a photographer needs a lawyer, a lawyer needs an accountant. It was just a matter of connecting the dots,” he said.
Klein started with a smallish networking event at a Kosher restaurant in Skokie. He expected about 20 people to show up. Instead, nearly 80 came.
“And the next day I walked into a coffee shop, and I saw two meetings going on from the day prior. And I knew I hit on something big,” he said.
Klein expects his latest event will draw 2,500 people. Among them –some heavyweights: Congressmen Jan Schakowsky and Robert Dold, and Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon.
Klein admits there are some mornings he wakes up and is like, How did I get here? “I don’t know what it was. I don’t know what it was exactly that brought so many people together. I know how to plan an event. I know what food to order, I know where to do it, I know how to promote an event.”
One more thing: the business card exchange. Before leaving, this WBEZ reporter gave her card to Klein. Klein in turned pulled out a nearly one-inch stack of cards.
“Every single day I meet with a lot of people. Today, Odette, I think you’re my 12th meeting of the day,” Klein said.
It was only 2:00 p.m.
Networking Tip of The Week – Competitor Relationships
Build relationships with your competitors so you can refer business that’s too small, too big, or too far away.