255: Network with a Mindset of Curiosity - with Ariel Kopac

Meet Ariel Kopac

Ariel Kopac is a podcaster, professional speaker and business coach who focuses on mindset and limiting beliefs. As a Certified Myers-Briggs Practitioner, Certified Coach, and Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, Ariel is equipped to dig in and help her clients to identify the mental and emotional roadblocks that are hindering their success. Her coaching practice (and her coaching philosophy) is Harness Your Hindrance.

Why don't you share with us the meaning or philosophy behind the name of your coaching business Harness Your Hindrance?

So Harness Your Hindrance is really the philosophy. The meaning is in the name. If you find the definitions of each of those words, what it really means is to take control and make use of whatever is holding you back. And that's really at the core of what I believe. That you can't always remove the barrier or the obstacle. You can't always eliminate it. But you can always take control and make use of it. Sometimes your greatest hindrance can become your greatest strength if you learn how to harness it.

What are some key practices that help people with shifting their mindset?

Oftentimes it starts with just awareness of what your mindset currently is, and what you want your mindset to be, you're going to be different. Honestly, it's the little things that make the biggest difference. Simply identifying, where's my mind? Where's my focus, right now, what is my mindset, and I recommend it using what I call triggers. So having a key word, or even a movement, a phrase, a sound, something that when you are recognizing you're going down a negative mental pattern, or you're losing focus, or your mindset is in a less than empowering state, you might say, using a trigger, to just say, okay, we're gonna shift, I'm gonna shift out of this.

Is there a mindset or mindset shift that is important to have when it comes to networking?

I'll explain this one with a story. I was working in Newport Beach, California. And I was in charge of the training and development of financial advisors for a firm out there. And one of my advisors would come into the training classes, and I led a lot of training classes. And he would say to the new advisors, if you want to learn how to network, go with Ariel. I'm not a financial advisor, why are you telling them that and he said, you may not be a financial advisor, but you’re the best networker I've ever seen. And I said, well, thank you for the compliment. But I don't know how to teach that. So what do you mean? Networking isn't something that I strategize or think through. I was looking for potential great recruits that I would want in my training class but I was going in with an openness and enjoyment. I would find excuses to go networking. And I said, there's certain things I can teach people. But the part that I don't know how to teach is a spirit of curiosity. So that's the part that I go into every networking event with is just pure curiosity. And that's when I think you really find the opportunities and the unexpected wins, and those powerful connections. So when I think about a mindset when it comes to networking, it's a mindset of curiosity and a mindset of exploration, trusting that there's going to be something fun, exciting, new and intriguing that you're going to discover, and you don't know who you're going to discover it from or where you're going to find it, but it’s there.

Can you share with our listeners, your most successful or favorite networking experiences you that you've had?

I would say one of my favorite or most successful networking stories was actually from a group involving Toastmasters. We can think about networking groups or networking meetings, but when I think about networking, I'm just thinking about expanding my network. And so you don't have to go to a networking meeting, or be a part of a networking group per se, those are great ways, but not the only way to network, right. One of the groups that I would say I've utilized to expand my network is Toastmasters, which is a group for professional development and public speaking. When I was in California, I actually went to, I think, eight different clubs trying to find the right club, the right fit the, the group that I wanted to become a member with and continually develop my public speaking, skill set. So I actually started to get a little bit worn out from exploring all these different clubs. And I wanted to start to be more intentional with my time. So I discovered there was one club that met during lunch, and I wanted to explore that club, because I thought, that's probably fellow professionals, networkers, those who can take a lunch break, and I just started my own business. So I reached out to the vice president of membership for that club, and said, I'm interested potentially in your group, but I'm trying to be really selective with my time because I just started my own business, would you be open to meeting one on one and letting me know more about the group so that I can know if it'd be worthwhile engagement? She said, yes, we met and ended up becoming a great connection, great friends and I became part of that Toastmasters group. She was actually the head of the HR department for her company. And over time with that initial engagement, she said, I'm really intrigued by what you do, I think our we could use your services from an HR perspective. And that led to me being part of that Toastmasters group, but then also coming in and doing training and seminars for her company.

Can you share how you stay in front of and invest, nurture your network in your community?

I'll be transparent. I joke that I am terrible representation of a millennial because I don't enjoy social media. And I'm not actively engaged online, as many of my peers and fellow network connections. Familiarity is a key aspect for building those relationships and people wanting to connect with you, build a friendship with you, have a business connection with you. So I realized that not being visually, in front of clients, my network, my connections, was my own hindrance, I was not taking control of that opportunity. So the way I did that was I know that I communicate best actually, through speaking rather than through typing or writing. And I think you should use your strengths. So I started a podcast, that I can promote on social media, that I can offer value in content just like you do, Lori. And it's a way to connect with people, add value, and stay front of mind and present.

If you could go back to your 20-year-old self, what would you tell yourself to do more of less of or differently with regards to your professional career.

Now I love and understand the power of relationships. But when I started my professional career, I'm not sure that I did. When I was at work, I loved relationships. But I didn't understand the power and the value of relationships, I kind of had this mental separation of those powerful relationships are for outside of work, and the work relationships, you got to work the relationship a little bit, but you didn't see it as an investment. Now I understand that the greatest movement, the greatest results, I guess you could say come from relationships. And I wish I had understood that at the beginning of my career. Because I think I would have invested in some other relationships that I saw as a distraction from the task, I saw as a pull away from the productivity. And if I had used relationships as an investment that you don't ever know when it's going to pay off and you don't know which investment is going to work. But relationships are a very important thing to invest in.

Do you have any final word or advice for our listeners with regards to growing and supporting your network?

I think when I talked about investing in relationships, you never know when it's gonna come back to you or when someone may need you as well. So just as you said Lori, stay open, stay curious. You never know what seed is going to sprout. So nurture them as best as you can, stay front of mind. And as being the mindset coach that I am, stay focused on what you can control stay focus on your mindset and your focus. And then trust it that the results will come as long as you continue to invest in those relationships. and nurture your network.

How to connect with Ariel:

Website: https://harnessyourhindrance.com/

Email: ariel@harnessyourhindrance.com