Find “Network Effect” on your favorite podcast player - https://pod.link/1765618548
In this episode of Network Effect, host interviews Todd DeVoe, Editor in Chief of Emergency Management Network and an experienced emergency management professional. They discuss the importance of networking in career advancement, how to effectively utilize networking opportunities and Todd's experiences in the field. The episode provides practical advice for students and professionals on building meaningful connections and overcoming networking challenges in significant events. Stick around for some thought-provoking conversation and valuable tips to enhance your professional network.
00:00 Introduction to Season Three
00:45 Meet Todd DeVoe: Emergency Management Expert
02:53 The Power of Networking: Todd's Story
04:42 Advice for Students and Professionals
07:34 Deep Questions and Personal Growth
11:35 Handling Networking Events
14:01 Following Up and Maintaining Connections
18:21 Tools for Managing Relationships
19:44 Regrets and Reconnecting
22:01 Conclusion and Parting Words
Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity and time.
~Alan Collins
Links
Todd DeVoe
Todd DeVoe on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddtdevoe/
EMN Media - https://emnetwork.substack.com/
Brian Colburn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancolburn/
Twitter: https://x.com/CoachBColburn
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bcoolburn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcolburncoaching/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BColburnCoaching
Affiliate*
*Nowsite CRM and More - https://link.bcolburn.com/DB-Nowsite
Transcript
*Transcribed by Descript
Brian: [00:00:00] Welcome back to season three, episode number 21 of the Network Effect. I was hesitant about doing a third season, but I decided we are going to change format and I'm actually going to interview professionals across various. Industry talking about how they've utilized networking to increase their reach.
Customer base opportunities, maybe finding a new job. So without further ado, we are going to kick off with episode 21. My very first guess is named Todd Devoux, and if you know me, you probably know Todd, but Todd is the editor in Chief of Emergency Management Network, a thriving newsletter for emergency managers.
And those [00:01:00] studying. To become emergency managers. He is currently the second vice president for the International Association of Emergency Managers. USA, he's the vice President for the Foundation of the Research and Advancement of Emergency Management. Mouthful. I know, but wait, there's more. The founding faculty of the University of Applied Research and Development and an instructor of emergency management at the University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education Now.
Todd and I met at a hasty. If you've got a military background, you'll understand a hasty networking event. We called the coffee machine back in the day when we worked at American Medical Response Running Rescue Ambulance. So without further ado, Mr. Devo welcome.
Todd DeVoe: Hey brother. How's it going?
Brian: Dude? It's so good not to be reading a script and I get to be a little animated and, and actually engage with somebody other than a [00:02:00] script scrolling by.
Todd DeVoe: First of all, I like your intro gold. Thank you. It's on fire, literally. It's awesome. Literally awesomeness. And, uh, yeah, so I, I, I'm, I'm excited about your new direction that you're going with the, with the program too. And, and, uh, I wish you great success with it.
Brian: I appreciate that, Todd, we are gonna kick this off.
I have a few questions outlined, and I'm sure we're gonna take a right when we should be making a left because of our relationship together. Like I said, a hasty networking event. We met at a coffee pot in the a MR building in Cerritos back in the day, and it, it was like a gathering of veterans when we first met.
Do you remember that? Yeah.
Todd DeVoe: Absolutely.
Brian: Do you realize that was almost 23 years ago? Man, I don't,
Todd DeVoe: don't say that. That makes me feel old.
Brian: You are old, brother. You are old. So right now, I want you to share with us an unexpected opportunity that dropped in your [00:03:00] lap because of professional networking.
Todd DeVoe: You know what?
I'll tell you it. It's. I would say it's been more than one. You know, I got, I got my dog here with me. She's my networking partner. Um, no, I, I, I think it's, I think it's been more than, more than one for sure. Um, but I, I'll, I'll tell you about the most current one. Tell me I. Okay, so, um, I was walking through the, through the hallway.
Uh, no, no, no. I was, I was about to, uh, uh, I give a speech actually. That's what I was about to do. And um, and I was in, walk up the stairs and it. A friend of mine comes over to me and he goes, Hey, man. He goes, uh, how are things going? He goes, uh, I got some news on you. And I'm like, oh, yeah, so we'll, we'll, , so that's, let's go have a beer about talking about that one, right?
He's like, okay, yeah, cool, right? So we go out having a couple of, uh, couple cocktails and just discussing [00:04:00] some stuff and, uh, through that he, um, offered me a job. To, to come work for, to come work for him, um, to do some exciting stuff with the US Olympics and, uh, some, some stuff. And he has me coming in as the operations section chief, um, uh, in this, uh, new, new venture in the new city.
So that's, that's, and I worked over, it was all about, uh, uh, cocktails.
Brian: That's very cool. I mean, and that's the power of networking, right? Yeah, absolutely. Not burning bridges, holding close to relationships. You know, so many people think networking is about selling and it's not. It's about fostering relationships.
So with that, having been said Todd work, working with the students you work with, getting into emergency management. Sure. What advice would you give them? About professional networking now while they're a student learning the trade.
Todd DeVoe: Well, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go two [00:05:00] points. So one, when I was doing under teaching undergrad, which I don't teach undergrad anymore, it's all, it's all grad students.
Um, it, it was about building skills, right? Um, you know, going, getting an internship to build skills, to, to learn the ropes, um, you know, take that opportunity that's available to, to really build that up and build a resume. Still important for undergrad, by the way. Right? So if you're, if you're a, you know, not finished with your, your year 12 yet, and year 12, your senior, just thinking about my kids, your senior year.
Yeah. If you're not done with high school yet, finish high school please. Um, when you're finishing, when you're finishing college, uh, on your senior year, you realistically should be working, not just doing your, your, uh, . Your coursework, which is important obviously, uh, but really building those, um, your network of potential jobs through internships, um, through some volunteer work that you could do, things like that, that really build that resume important.
But [00:06:00] once you get out and you're in there for a little bit, if you go to grad school, um, you shouldn't look at grad school. You shouldn't be doing internships, right? You should really already have some established working, working relationships. Um, there you need to be not just knocking on doors. Um, you should be building those relationships, finding mentors, um, in the, in the profession that you want to be in.
Right? Uh, finding the, and, and once they finding mentors, it's not just finding anybody, finding that right, that right mentor that fits you and then that you fit the mentor. And number two is finding the mentor who actually has the ability. Two open doors for you in that profession. Um, I'm thinking, you know, not even just emergency management, but this goes across the, the, the realm for every, any type of job that you have.
Um, for instance, like if you wanna be in the entertainment business, right? This, use this as a good example. Um, you want to go get a mentor [00:07:00] who's a record executive. , right? You don't want to get a mentor who is a software developer. Not saying that you, I'm not saying that software developer can't help you in some cases, but it's not gonna open doors for you in the business that you want to be in.
Right? Right. So, so, so find the person who's in the industry that you're doing at the highest level that you could get, um, and. Build that relationship with 'em. And same thing with emergency management, right? You might have a mentor who's a police chief or a fire chief, that's great. Uh, but you wanna have somebody who's in emergency management who can really, uh, show you their way and open the door for you.
Brian: You know what, when I talk about networking with people who are new to it, that are uncomfortable, I always encourage them to have a couple of canned questions. That are conversation starters that they can relax and open up conversation with. And one of those is this question that I posed to you. What's a question no one has ever asked you about the work that you [00:08:00] do that you wish they would?
I
Todd DeVoe: silence. Um. I have had one. It's
Brian: not a great conversation starter then, is it?
Todd DeVoe: No, it, no it is, it's, it's, it's, it's a deep think, right? I mean, it's not one that you just go, boom, you know, you don't have that off the tip of your tongue. It's a, it's a really, a deep think. Um, and I love that, by the way. And John, Brian knows that the fact that I, I do like to dive deep into things.
Um, people don't ask. The hard questions. And what I mean by that, they're like, oh yeah. You know, like, you know, what's the worst thing you've ever seen? Or whatever, stuff like that, right? Um, those are, those are really surface scratching questions that sometimes could be annoying. Right. Um, when it comes to that, you wanna look into what are the opportunities that you have for growth, [00:09:00] right.
And I'm talking, and then when I say growth, it's not about can I promote right? Is there opportunity for you to grow personally and professionally? Um, you know, is, do you like. It was funny last year, um, I gave everybody, not everybody, I gave all of our executive staff, um, it's like captains and above, um, uh, a book, you know?
And, um, matter of fact, it's right here. And I, anyway, I gave 'em, I gave them a book. It's Amanda Ripley's book. It's, uh, it's her second edition, um, called, um. Unbelievable. I'm pulling this out really quick just to really show you. And, um, I read, I read her first book, but I got this for everybody. I paid for it.
And as I gave it to 'em, I gave it to one of the girls, um, who, um, and she's like, oh, you gave me homework, right? And I'm like giving, she's like, oh, when I get a book, I always feel like I'm getting homework. [00:10:00] That's such the wrong attitude to, to have, right? It's like, here's the opportunity to learn. All right.
And that's the way you have to look at things like this. What is your, so when you have the ability to grow, what is the opportunity to learn? Right? Can, can that organization get you, if not within the organization, to grow? Say you join a small group, does the person who works there have the ability to make a phone call during like these fires they're happening here in LA County, um, to get you sitting in the large EOCs to get see time, um, in a disaster.
Right. Um, which we're doing right now with some of our, um, with some of our junior members and getting them inside the emergency operations center to get some seat time, um, in 'cause these, these disasters, thank God, don't come around every time, every opportunity. Absolutely. Do you know, do you have the opportunity to go outta state?
Um, to, to learn from other people. Do you have the opportunity to go to conferences and or training? That's what I'm talking about. [00:11:00] Is there opportunity for growth? Absolutely not. Do I have a, not, do I have the ability to promote? Because you might, you might, you might have to start with a small agency where there's no opportunity to, to promote up, but you might have the opportunity to grow, and that's what you should be looking for.
Brian: Right? You know, back to the question you're commonly asked, do you remember the Nicholas Cage movie bringing out the Dead?
Todd DeVoe: Yeah,
Brian: the, he was an ambulance op, uh, operator, I believe it was in New York City, and somebody asked him, what's the worst thing you've ever seen? And he replies, anchovies on a pizza,
That always sticks with me when that question is asked. So what advice would you give to someone who feels intimidated or overwhelmed when they're walking into a networking event or large crowd?
Todd DeVoe: Yeah, everybody does. Everybody feels intimidated walking into a large networking event. Um, and if you don't, you're going, you're in the wrong, [00:12:00] you're in the wrong networking event, right?
Um, and, and I'll tell you this, what I mean by this, this was not necessarily a networking event, but networking is always being done. I had to present in this room and I'm sitting in there and I was a junior guy at the time, and, um, I had three sheriffs, the sheriff of three different counties, orange County, San Bernardino County, and, and uh, LA County.
Um, walk in the room. I had two, four star generals walking in the room. I had a couple Congress persons, um, walk, not the staff members, the congress members themselves, um, walking into the room and chief's the police from LA City, long Beach Beach, um, and, um, Anaheim and a few other larger cities that, that came in the, in there.
I look at my chief, [00:13:00] who I'm sitting at, my chief, the guy who I'm working for, and I look at him, I go, I think I'm in the wrong room. Right? And he goes, no, you're in the room that you, you're in the room where you're supposed to be and understanding that, that you're in the room that you're supposed to be, right?
All these people are these high ranking officials. I'm still kind of junior and. I'm there for a reason and understand that you're there for a reason. Nobody in there is looking to bite your head off. No one there is looking to embarrass you. Um, they all want to see what you have to say if you're in that room.
Um, presenting number two, if you're in that room, take that opportunity to shake hands and say hello.
Brian: Absolutely.
Todd DeVoe: You know, um. They'll, they'll, and, and this is your time to shine, to stand out, right? You don't have to put a show on. You don't have to do anything crazy. Um, you just have to be there, be present, and be, and, and just know that all those people that were there were one time you.
So that's the important part of it too. [00:14:00] Absolutely. They all started somewhere.
Brian: So given the years we've known each other, we've talked about networking and working trade shows and things of that nature, and I've shared with you how I handle the influx of people. Typically, it's a business card. Nowadays it's digital cards.
However, I would put . Hot leads in my left breast pocket, and I would put warm to cold leads in my right breast pocket. When I would get home, I would follow up with the warmer hot leads first and then move over to the cold. What approach do you take when you're following up with new connections you've made at a networking event?
Todd DeVoe: Ooh. You know, I, I mean, to be honest with you, I'm, it's probably that one area in my life where I'm, I'm not great at, right? Um, I, I'm not a sales person. By, by trade I mean, I know that you, and I've had the conversation. [00:15:00] Read the books, everything that we're all salespeople, right? But as far as like, what do I do?
Uh, you know, as far as hot and cold, I, I really don't look at it that, but what I, what I look at, and, and it's funny you say that because I, I have a few cards right here in front of me that I've gone through. I went to a conference and all the, of all the cards that were given to me, uh, these are the ones, these , these are the ones that I'm actually
Uh, following up on, um, it's people that I don't wanna say are, are, are important. That's, that's 'cause everybody I think has something that they can add to the conversation. But it's people who, I want to have a further, I. Conversation to expand my knowledge base, right? Because that's what I'm looking at as a college professor.
I'm looking at somebody who can expand my knowledge base as a podcaster. I'm looking at somebody who's gonna be interesting to be on the show. Um, and then as far as like sales go, as far as like having [00:16:00] sponsors and stuff, I'm looking for people who are going to, um. Bring a quality to my audience, um, that I believe in.
'cause the stuff that I bring on people who are in companies, I bring on to sponsor my show are companies that I actually believe in how to use their product. I don't let anybody, I don't let everybody into, uh, my sponsorship realm, right? Um, I'm looking at quality, not quantity when it comes to, uh, to sponsors.
So. Um, it's a little bit different for me. Uh, I'm not trying to sell widgets or gidgets. Right, right. Um, so, so I think it's a little bit different. But on the other hand too is I'm looking at people who I want to build relationships with, um, and that's who I follow up with, um, whether professional or even personal relationships in some cases.
Right, right. You know, some people you just click with. Um, and I'll tell you, look, I'll, I'll use a great example and I'll, I'll, I'll drop his name. So, uh, Bruce Jones. Who I've known now for a [00:17:00] few years. Um, he is a meteorologist, um, and part of Midland Radio. I've known him for years. I, I've taken him, well, like we, we came out here to California.
He is never been out here before. Took him out to Inn out . He thought it was great, you know, now it's like he's, he's like so excited now when he sees Inn out, his and his got his wife eating and out, you know, and every time he sees him he's like, oh, I remember that first time he brought me to Inn out.
Right. And like why? Why is that important? Well, you know, now we're starting to do some stuff with Midland. Radio, you know, um, and it's been years. It hasn't been, it wasn't an overnight thing. It's been, it's been years I've been having this relationship building. I think that's, and I wasn't even looking for anything out of him.
It was just, Hey, this is a cool guy. He is an interesting man. He is a very smart guy. Talks about weather. Weather's very important to us that I, I'm more interested in weather on a personal side 'cause I go out camping and off-roading, uh, things like this. I wanna know what I'm gonna be looking at. Um, you know, [00:18:00] here in California we
You know, you don't think we have weather, but obviously you've gotta pay the new, pay attention to the news. You know, winds really impact our life. We got fire burning all over the place, so, you know, so weather's important and that's what the conversation was about. It wasn't about radios. And now, um, you know, we're doing some stuff with 'em, so it's kind of cool.
Brian: Very cool. You, you showed us business cards on your desk. Are there any apps or software CRMs that you use to manage these relationships once you've made them? I.
Todd DeVoe: Um, yeah, so I use, um, a program that you turned me on to a while ago, and I know you kind of moved on from it, but, um, close. Um, I use that and then I have notion as well, um, that I use.
And then now I'm starting to, uh, play a little bit more into now site, um, since you've turned me onto that as well. Um, what, what that is. And, and now site seems to be kind of cool. Now, [00:19:00] site has some really cool features into it that, uh, I mean obviously you could talk more about Brian than I could, but, um, it's an
Some neat features that help you even like, kind of build a better understanding of who you're speaking to. And, um, those are, those are kind of cool, uh, tools to use. Um. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm a guy who's, and you know this because Judge Brian crazy sometimes everybody gives you some insight that I am slow to adapt to something new.
What I mean, slow is like I'm, I'm comfortable in what I'm using. Um, so I don't like to change for change sake. Uh, but, um, once I do, I dive into it and then I, I pretty much, uh, uh, use it. And so I'm, I'm, I'm transitioning from close into to now SCI I believe.
Brian: Very, very cool. So this is the last question I have for you.
Share a connection you wish you had maintained, but you let it slip, and why do you think that happened?[00:20:00]
Todd DeVoe: I mean, there's a couple, actually. I choose
Brian: one.
Todd DeVoe: Um.
I have a couple people who I've met, uh, throughout the years, you know, different positions that, um. That I, that professionally speaking, um, not, not personally, um, that I wish I, I kept more of a connection with. Um, and not, not so much because that they could do anything for me on the professional side, but I liked them as an individual.
Um, and. You know, and it's, it's kind of one of those things like, do I reach out now? It's been, you know, you know, four or five years, you know, since I spoke to you last, I reach out now and say, Hey, how's it going? Yeah, I know I haven't talked to you forever. Um, uh, and so yeah, I, I, I kind of regret a couple people that I've done that way where I just, you know, they haven't called me or I haven't called them, and, and [00:21:00] I feel weird reaching back out to 'em and, and, uh, and I have, uh, uh.
Uh, one guy who, who I, I was friends with, um, you know, didn't connect all, didn't talk all the time, but, um, one of those ones that you kinda let slip and, uh, found out that he passed away. And, and that was really kind of heartbreaking because you're like, oh man, like I should have and I didn't, and now he's gone.
I can't, you know, and that, those are the ones that, that B me
Brian: Absolutely, man. And. Take some advice. It's never too late. Who cares? How many years have passed? You know, warm. Approach him. Start commenting on his stuff on LinkedIn. Reconnect somehow. Find a way because it's top of mind for you. There's some reason in your mind that you should have wish you would've, should I still connect with this individual?
So do it. What's the worst that can happen? True.
Todd DeVoe: Yeah. True. Yeah, [00:22:00]
Brian: absolutely Todd. Well, listen man, I appreciate you coming on episode 21, the very first interview episode of Network Effect. Any parting words?
Todd DeVoe: One, thank you for allowing my, uh, dog to be part of this experience. You know, she's my, uh. Uh, she's my, I, I love, I love animals, number one.
Number two, this, this dog here, she's, uh, she's with me wherever I go. So , including online, uh, shows, um, no. And, and then, but parting words. Hey, just say hi. It's all you gotta do. Shake a hand, say hi. Um, and if there can, can you use bad words on this?
Brian: Well, you know, it, it's a quasi business show, so let's keep it clean.
Todd DeVoe: Okay. . I'm gonna use, if they're a bad person to you, then you don't want to deal with 'em anyway. Absolutely. I was about to use the
Brian: D word, but I didn't. Absolutely. You know, [00:23:00] not everybody. Let's put it this way. My mother once told me, I'm not everybody's cup of tea. So there we have it. Todd, I really wanna thank you.
Great work with what you're doing at EMN. If you want to subscribe, I'm, I'm gonna throw some links to Todd, most importantly, his LinkedIn link in the show notes. So if you'd like to connect with Todd, um, go ahead and click that, reach out to him on LinkedIn. Um, it's one of the great platforms where I do a lot of, uh, head hunting and researching.
You're, you're open to accepting connections there, Todd. Absolutely. Awesome. Again, appreciate it, brother. We will talk soon, I'm sure.
Todd DeVoe: Talk to you later. All right, everybody. Thank you for being for, thank you for letting me be here,
Brian: all right, everybody. That was our first interview on the Network Effect, episode 21, season three.
I appreciate you being here with us. If you feel this type of content can resonate with anybody in your circle, please share the show. Find us on whatever podcast player you're listening. Give us a rating, [00:24:00] give us a review. Five stars, a couple of sentences goes a long way in helping others discover the show.
Appreciate you being here. Oh, I've got one more thing. I'm going to finish every episode with a quote. Not all of them networking related, but today's happens to be, and today's quote is from
Alan Collins. Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity, and time.
Effort, sincerity and time, so it shouldn't come easy.
There is some work involved. We'll see you next week.
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