Welcome to another episode! This week I’m so excited to welcome my new friend, Jenn Trepeck of the Salad With a Side of Fries.    Personal experience led Jenn to seek information on wellness and weight loss and she now pays it forward by sharing nutrition education on her podcast. Jenn built her business as a side hustle while working full time in hedge funds. Now, in addition to her health podcast and coaching, she coaches entrepreneurs like herself to make their side-hustle their full-time job.   Our conversation focused very little on careers, however, and had everything to do with building authentic networking relationships. Key takeaways

• Entrepreneurship was naturally in Jenn’s world as both parents were self-employed. She studied business in undergrad but found herself bored in her first job and started her side hustle.
• Jenn was introduced to the curriculum she now teaches during a personal struggle with her own weight and health.
• Jenn worked as a photoshoot producer and was introduced to working in investing through a colleague. She went on to work in nearly every administration position within a hedgefund before leaving to take her side hustle full time.
• Jenn appreciates her time building her business on the side because it built confidence and financial stability. She cautions against appearing too desperate to potential clients.
• Jenn used to attend business networking events that she calls “the business card shuffle.” She says the best approach now is to get to know someone first as a person and connect through business later.
• Recognize what makes you unique and niche down. Avoid identifying your business as seeking “anybody who…” because being too broad can actually backfire.
• Challenge yourself in conversation to see how long you can go without mentioning a person’s career. Jenn’s favorite conversation starters include “What’s on tap for this weekend?” and “What’s good and new?”
• Your networking group becomes your “army of unpaid marketing avengers” and brings much better clients than a Facebook ad.

  Connect with Jenn through her website, Salad With a Side of Fries, or through Instagram at @saladwithasideoffriespod or @jenntrepeck.   Quotes

• I did the typical thing- Interned at the big companies, went to work full time, and was bored. What’s next? I’m supposed to just keep doing this thing every day?
• Worlds collided after I had such a powerful experience with this program… This, THIS is what I’m going to do.
• Desperation is like a wall around you.
• The challenge is to have that behind the scenes and not in a conversation with a potential client.
• Networking isn’t about the person you’re talking to. It’s about the thousands of people that they know that you don’t know.
• Every person is a window to a thousand-plus people you don’t know
• Going back and forth in paragraph emails does not build a relationship.
• What makes you different than everyone else out there who does what you do?
• Wellness for real life