AI and Authenticity: The Key to Networking Success

Today, we dive into a conversation with Andrew Brümmer who shares that real success is not a happy accident but a product of clarity, relationships, and intentional growth. Andrew's journey, which includes leveraging AI and writing books, highlights how building a personal brand can transform one's professional life. He emphasizes that networking is not just about who you know but who remembers you when opportunities arise. With practical tips and personal anecdotes, Andrew encourages us to engage authentically and to volunteer in our fields to truly understand our strengths and impact. Join us for insights that can help you become unstoppable in your journey toward success! Today’s discussion centers around the idea that true success isn’t a happy accident; it’s a product of clarity, relationships, and intentional growth. I had the pleasure of chatting with Andrew Brümmerfrom Ardunan Village, who shared his journey into the world of AI and the importance of building a strong personal brand. We explored how he transformed his life through networking and writing, emphasizing that building authentic relationships is key to growth. Andrew also provided some golden nuggets on how to leverage volunteer work for personal and professional development. So, if you're looking to become unstoppable in your journey, you won't want to miss this insightful episode! Engaging with Andrew Brümmer on the Unstoppable Success podcast reveals the journey of turning challenges into opportunities. Andrew shares his accidental dive into the world of AI, sparked by a pivotal moment in 2024 when he recognized the need to build his personal brand. With a nudge from a mentor, he began writing LinkedIn posts that eventually culminated in his book, "Leading Magnanimously." His experience emphasizes that real success is not a mere coincidence; it’s cultivated through intentional actions, building relationships, and embracing growth. The conversation flows effortlessly as Andrew discusses the power of networking and the concept of relationship capital, where knowing the right people can significantly enhance your career and opportunities. He provides practical tips on effective networking, urging listeners to go beyond job titles and engage authentically with others. Andrew highlights that networking should be about connection rather than sales. He encourages listeners to volunteer, meet new people, and focus on how they can help others without expecting something in return. This mindset fosters genuine relationships that can lead to unforeseen opportunities. His personal journey as a self-described introvert adds a relatable element to the discussion, showcasing that overcoming fears and engaging with others is a skill that can be developed. The episode wraps up with Andrew sharing his vision for the future, focusing on planting seeds fo

Your network is more than contacts. It is your greatest catalyst for opportunity.

If you are ready to elevate your business, expand your relationships, and create real momentum, here is your next step:

Book a private strategy call:
Let’s map your next level of growth
Book a Strategy Call

Join the Unstoppable Success Community:
Surround yourself with high-performing leaders and real conversations
Skool Community: Unstoppable Success

 Get the Book:
Charting True North

Stay connected and visible:
Unstoppable Success Podcast
Connect with Jaclyn on LinkedIn

Transcript

Recording Started

Introduction to Andrew Bremmer and His Insights on Success

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to the Unstoppable Success Podcast, where we spotlight visionary leaders who have mastered the art of growth, purpose, and powerful connections. I'm your host, Jacqueline Stallminger, connector, high performance coach, and creator of the Leap to Your Success Framework in Two Steps to Yes. Each week we dive into bold insights, real conversations, and powerful strategies to fuel your growth, deepen your relationships, and ignite transformational momentum. And why? Because you were meant to be unstoppable. Now let's leap into the podcast. I'm your host, Jacqueline Strumminger. And on this podcast, we hear from amazing leaders throughout the world who have had unstoppable success. They get to share their insights, their tips, their tidbits so that you can be unstoppable. And today I have a great guest. It is Andrew Brummer. And let me just tell you, he is with the Arduunan Village. Did I get that right? Arduinan Village. Okay. Um and he just let you know, he is somebody who truly understands real success isn't built by accident. It's built through clarity, relationships, intentional growth. He works throughout a whole bunch of different areas, whether it's AI, book writing, coaching. But at the end of the day, all of it is all about creating a meaningful impact to lead with both strategy and integrity. So, Andrew, welcome to the Unstoppable Success Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Thank you so much for having me, Jaclyn. I really appreciate you.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

Oh my God. It's so great. I mean, we already were having so much fun pre-show.

SPEAKER_00 1:55

We should have been recording.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

Well, the AI caught it, so we can always put it in the show notes.

unknown 2:04

Right?

SPEAKER_01 2:04

Okay, so let me just like before I kind of like jump in, I'm curious. Like, you know, you do a bunch of different things. How did you get to where you are now, like into AI? I mean, AI AI is like the buzzword, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz. But it's been around for a while, actually. So, how did what was your foray into this?

Building Relationships Through Networking and AI

SPEAKER_00 2:29

It was actually by accident. Um, I went through a pivot in 24, and you can listen to other podcasts and and listen to what that pivot was about in 24, um, where I kind of had a bit of a wake-up call. And part of that wake-up call was meeting somebody in Fractionals United, a lady by the name of Kim. And Kim said to me, Andrew, you need to build your brand because I had no brand, no presence. I was just, I was the average worker. I was comfortable in my work, and I did not have a brand. And she said to me, Andrew, you need to start writing. And I'm like, Don't be stupid. Um, I just couldn't write, I don't have the patience, it's just never gonna work. She said, Andrew, stop being lazy, stop being stubborn, just wake up 30 minutes early, start writing LinkedIn posts, and before you know it, you're gonna have enough content to start a book. I'm like, it's never gonna work. Anyway, started waking up 30 minutes early, love came to bits, um, and eventually ended up with a book leading magnanimously. Um, fast forward nine months, um, eight months, I was networking an awful lot to try and rebuild my network based on Fractions United and meeting people, and that ended up creating a story of how to maximize and leverage LinkedIn, how to network, how to find people, and how to build a brand and make friends, and how to find people that don't know you but will change their world for you. Um and part of the U Decide book, what I ended up doing is I trained so many people on how to use my method. I ended up writing a book about it, but because I had so much content and so much already prescribed, I didn't have to invent and write the books. I started using AI to help me figure out what was the book, how do I write it, how's it structured, and then that just spiraled out of control. And what I found out is that AI for me is my digital work partner, and I uh I I leverage it in everything. I leverage it as a workhorse content creation. I mean, I leverage AI all over the place. It is, it has multiplied my productivity probably sixfold.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

Yep. Oh, I totally love it. Okay, so I have to share because I'm kind of excited about this. So um I just kind of did what you did, in a sense. Um I took, I I write a weekly uh LinkedIn newsletter. And I have done that um through an AI, you know, through Claude, I'll be honest. I I use Claude, I love Claude. Um and I'm one of those people that I don't ask Claude to come up with the topics. I literally will just spew, right? Like whatever happened, blah blah blah. Um, and it I ask it to kind of like put it in a better format. Blah, blah. So Prince, so I just said to Claude the other day, Claude, will you compile the the uh my last year's worth of newsletters and create a book? Oh my god. So fascinating, it was totally totally fascinating.

SPEAKER_00 5:15

Anyway, but I just in in two months' time, let's cover this topic again.

SPEAKER_01 5:18

Yeah. No, and and I'm like, oh, I'm gonna share, I'm gonna send you my book if you're okay with it, like the rough copy. Tell me what you think. Um, and it was like work pages and like all my stories in there, and it just really brought it anyway. So I love that you just that you did that. Yeah, um, because it's so important. And uh and and the part about you know um the networking, you know, um something that I haven't shared a ton with our listeners. Uh we co I one of the co-founders of a company called Missing Link Network.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

And it's all about building um masterminding approach to networking. And and what you just talked about, you know, that whole part of networking. I call that that's the that's the relationship capital, right? Like that that's relationships, relationship capital is your way to grow your net worth, right? Uh so how like share with us maybe a couple of tips, how you've built those relationships. And you know, if somebody is thinking like today, I want to go to, I want to build better relationships, whether it's on LinkedIn, um, what what what are some nuggets that you could give somebody that they could take action on right now?

SPEAKER_00 6:39

Yeah, first of all, go to my LinkedIn page or my website, Andrew Brummer. Um, go to the book you decide. There's a free e e-book there for you to download, and it will walk you through everything I've learned, everything, everything I've learned how to do. Um, quick tips would be if you're comfortable in any way in the job you're doing today, you need to get off your end and start building your network. Make sure that the people around you know you. Remember, it's not it's not important who you know, it's who remembers you when they're in a discussion where you are relevant and an opportunity to be brought up on your behalf when you are not there. So it's not who you know, it's who knows and rem remembers you. Um start networking and network to pay it and pass it forward to use the cliches, but engage with no expectation of selling nothing in return and engage with people to find out how you can help, what you can give, how you can serve, and who you can who you can pay it forward to. Third piece I'd say is volunteer. Get involved in volunte inside of your profession, get involved in websites like push far and adp list, register yourself and do volunteer coaching, knowledge transfer, helping, assisting. It's fantastic in helping you find in your comfortable zones what are you really good at? Where are your strength points? And then go find places that you can go and strengthen that in places where you want to be in two, three, four years' time. So don't don't network in places that you are at. I mean, that's nice, but that's just self-endorsement. You want to go and say, Where do if I am a writer or an aspiring writer, where would I be in three years' time? Then find those forums and go network in them, make friends, and find coaches and mentors inside of that that can help you grow. So though those would be my tricks. But stop selling yourself, stop using your job title, pay an interest in people, listen, show up, be authentic, and engage.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

You know, I love what you said about stop using your job title, because people say, you know, people will ask what your title is, and I'm like, oh, I have lots of them. Yeah. I'm like, who cares?

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:38

Like it doesn't really matter. Oh, yeah. Um you know what I tell them, I tell them I'm redirecting you of me.

SPEAKER_00 8:43

Yeah, redirect. When someone says, What's your job title? Say, well, the value I add is I help people find themselves, I help people inspire the new tomorrow, I help them figure out, you know, they don't need a job title. Problem with the job title, as soon as you use it, the person that you're speaking with, as authentic as they're trying to be and as engaged as they're wanting to be with you, as soon as you give a job title, they pigeonhole you to their worst experience of that job title that they can remember. And you can't undo that. And everything you say from then until they talk again is just noise. They're not hearing a word you're saying. So don't use job titles. Speak about the value, speak about the impact, speak about the things you do, how you help people, how you propel people forward, how you propel functions forward, capabilities, product. And then, oh, by the way, I can do that under the following five different job titles. You pick which one is most relevant to what I've just described to you.

unknown 9:35

Right.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

I absolutely love that. I really love that. I mean, so that's you know, that is such a great way, obviously, to help, you know, uh build that trust, no like and trust with somebody, right? Because you're not you're right, you're because you're not just spewing your job title and what you like, you're you know, and I always say, like, you know, when you're thinking about networking, always think about five questions that you can ask. Yeah. Haven't before you even ask them about what they do. Because who cares? It doesn't, you'll find out what they do. Yeah, yeah. You know, it's it's more about you know them.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

The man yeah, you spot on. I love what you just said there. The real magic to networking is meeting the person that is real, not the Facebook version, not the LinkedIn version, not the job title version, but opening a dialogue with the person that you're networking with, whether it's like this on Zoom or whether you're face-to-face, is engage and disarm the discussion so you can get to meet the person behind what is being said. Because when you meet that person, you can then authentically step in and help that person. You can contribute, you can impact. You can now make it a discussion where you're paying an interest in one another versus trying to stack up, I'm better than you, you're better than me, I've got five years, you've got 10 years, I've got 11 years, you've got 12. I mean, it's just it's find ways to be human.

SPEAKER_01 10:58

Right? Find ways to be human. Right, right. So some people might be afraid or or getting out and and and actually doing the networking part of it, right? Oh, okay. So so how did you get over that fear? And so, and then also like what was you know, I don't mean to double ask questions because as a coach, you're never supposed to do that, but I am. Um, so what was something that didn't go as planned? And and how did you redirect it?

SPEAKER_00 11:27

So I'm what is called a contextual recluse. I am a natural introvert. I curl up in my little ball, and if you put me in a networking room, I'm the person sitting in the corner drinking a coke, a beer, or a whiskey. Um, and then when the event is over, I'll go home. And if I didn't meet anyone, I'll be really cross of myself, but I'll be comfortable going home, and it is what it is. And it took me ages to small steps at a time to find ways to nudge myself forward into engaging with people. So I can completely relate to what you just said. And what I would suggest is what was given to me and what helped me start pushing through my fears, and I mean they were chronic fears. I still live with live with them today, and my wife and I have good chuckles about it because my fears make no sense whatsoever. They make absolutely no sense. Still today I have those fears, so but they make no sense. So, what I would suggest is say that the person you are wanting to meet is as nervous and unsure as you are, number one, number two, they're there because of probably similar reasons that you're there. They're interested, they're paying an interest, they want to meet people and they want to learn stuff. There's no better way than to walk up to someone and say, Hey, my name is Andrew. What did you find interesting today, or what are you doing here? And the real critical part, the last piece that I learned only recently, is when you walk into the networking room, don't go get a drink and then scout the room and then figure out who to walk up to. Walk in the room, catch, meet, touch eyes, meet eyes with somebody and go meet them. Because as soon as you start overanalyzing, it's like when you're doing public speaking. Those first 15, 20, 25, 30 seconds are the most important of everything. If you get them right, then the balance of the talk is easy. If you get them wrong, then you jitter and you stutter and you're nervous all the way through. Same thing with networking. Walk in the networking room, eye contact, go straight up to the person, say, My name is Andrew. What are you what are you what are you doing here? I have we haven't met you before. What do you find interesting today? And strike it straight up, and that will then settle your nerves. Then go get a drink and go find the next person. And as soon as you get eye contact, go to them, don't analyze it.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

That's so true. Don't analyze it. It's not, and I love what you said about you know, the other person is probably just as nervous as you are. You know, I I I'm gonna date myself here, you know, it was like it's like the Brady Bunch, right? Uh as you're talking about that, and you know, um, what was the thing, you know, picture everybody naked in the room, right? Because, you know, like as you're getting up to give a speech, like if you walk in and you're just like, you know, yeah. It doesn't, everybody is there for a reason, too. And so, and you can even see you, I like I think it's perfectly fine. You know what? Like, hi, I'm Jacqueline. You know what? This stuff always makes me nervous.

SPEAKER_00 14:05

Yeah, it's spots on. Just do it. Don't our problem is I'm speaking for myself here. I get so in my head, so I can completely relate to other people that are nervous about you. We get in our heads, this person's not gonna like us. I'm gonna say something stupid, I'm gonna sound like a moron, I'm gonna sound uneducated, I'm gonna sound like I don't know the topic that they're at. I'm gonna it just I mean, everything. Just don't just walk in straight to someone and say hi. So I've been practicing that and it has helped me dramatically. And I'm still nervous, but I am infinitely better than I used to be.

SPEAKER_01 14:38

That's awesome. I absolutely love that. I love that. So, you know, you shared, you know, that that um you know, you've written these books and you obviously are really into AI, but you also like obviously like coaching. When do you think about where you are today and where do you want to make your greatest impact, whether it's this year or five years from now?

SPEAKER_00 15:07

So I spent 24 building my credibility. I wrote two books in 24 and started networking and paying it forward. 25, I built up my that was my assets. I built my assets in 24. 25, I built my credibility and I got out there and volunteered, assisted, paid it forward, helped people as much and as broadly as I can. 26 will be actualizing it. My mantra is plant seeds that will grow trees that I will never sit under. So if you say to me, what is the definition of success for you? It's touching as many people's lives as I can possibly understand them as a human being and figure out how can I help them find their own mustard seed in whatever version they define it to be, and help them in whatever version they define it to water that mustard seed so that they can be their best, most magnificent self. And if that is the version that they are today, that's great. Then I'll love them, give them a hug, offer them help, give them coaching direction, introduce them wherever I can, and move on. My goal is to affect as many people as I can and at a global level. So I I affect people in India, Bulgaria, Rwanda, Nigeria, Venezuela, just all it but Brazil, Australia, I mean all over the place. There's so many people who are looking for someone just to pause and listen.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

So yeah, it's so true. And I love that it's it that you're doing and having an impact all over. And that's actually an interesting thing um I think a a big thing to note is that we are a global society. And so when you started thinking that, was that also something that you just that you did consciously to go and go Just accidentally.

SPEAKER_00 16:44

I mean, I went into flat panic mode as we would all when you go into a you know Dear Johnny discussion where you're like, Well, I don't know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, I don't know how I'm gonna survive. I went into flat panic mode to be very lasted at night. Um, and then the next day I went into action mode, and one of the first things I started doing was volunteering, and the websites I found played my hand. Um, push far is Middle East Africa-based, um, and ADP List is um Balance of the World based, and they're both volunteer platforms that you can register yourself on. Um, and then the people found me. Um and I can't I can't I I can't I can't take any credibility for having a strategy to it. I was so comfortable that when I got the dear journey discussion, I was so so unsettled, I was so rattled, um, I didn't I didn't know what to do, I didn't know where to go, and I just started. And um in the book you decide, I've actually got a timeline of everything that I've gone through and all the things I've done and people I've met. And and what's beautiful is that when you are at a point that you're either comfortable and you're trying to figure out purpose, or you're in a life of change event, whether it's personal or professional, by volunteering and serving other people, be it at a food pantry or be it professionally, it gives you something different to focus on because you're now focusing on other people, other problems, other situations. And what it does is it helps keep your brain fresh for self-innovation, self-identification, self-listening, self-healing, self-coaching, self-mentoring, um, and moving forward. It's a great, great way. I mean, I I I can't recommend volunteering enough in your professional space. I know there's a lot of theory that says don't do it in your professional space. In your professional space, I read in a book someone that says don't do do not do not volunteer in your professional space. I'm like, I I learned so much by volunteering in a space that I love, which is the space that I work in. I've grown leaps and bounds and been able to, and because I'm a multiply and solutionist, my Colby's a 3395, which means I I I have an intense set level of intuition. Um it's just glued together and help validate. What's fascinating is the person in Rwanda that's trying to figure out what they do and how they start their company has got the same question, same dream, same ideation as the person sitting, I don't know, in New York. Um they're the same. It's just they they they've got a different ri reality around them, but they have the same aspirations. They're after the same answers, just their version of it.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

Right. Oh, I love that. You know, and I'm so glad that you brought up volunteering. I I can I really want listeners for you to take action on that, about on the volunteering. I don't think I've I don't think in my year and a half of of podcasting and being hosting, no one has except you has brought up volunteering and the impact that I that it can have on your business.

SPEAKER_00 19:44

I can't explain. I couldn't pay for the lessons I've learned about myself, what I'm capable of doing, what the world needs, the lives I can affect. I couldn't I don't I honestly don't believe I could pay for the lessons I've learned over the past 20 months. I I don't I I don't think I could pay for it. I it the the value for me has been immeasurable.

SPEAKER_01 20:04

Yeah. So I'm kind of curious. Um you know, as you've been growing and as you've been building all these relationships and creating such great impact, what's one principle or habit you believe that most accelerates long-term success?

SPEAKER_00 20:22

Oh, long-term success. I I'm gonna say perseverance and all and authenticity. Just don't just don't give up. I mean you have to fail many times before you win, and you have to allow yourself to be failed to fail. And you must be graceful with yourself, be kind to yourself, hold yourself accountable, so be firm and stern, but be graceful and just persevere. Um and be authentic. Get rid of the Facebook mask and everything about us is this perception, the news, the Facebook, it's just all what I want people to think and know and stop. Just if people don't like it, yeah, if people don't like the authentic, vulnerable you what I learned in my LinkedIn campaign, my LinkedIn membership or connections have grown by something like seven, eight thousand in the past twenty months. It's a stupid number. There are six, seven hundred people that know me by name. Out of the seven thousand, I to get to the seven thousand connections, I probably had to touch maybe twenty-three thousand people. And at first I was reaching out to people that were meaningful, and I thought, well, I I've done my homework, I know you were in the same space, and it took a long time for me to be comfortable with the fact that some people are just not meant to know me. I'm just not meant to know them, and it's okay. It's okay for some people not to like me and for me not to like other people. Out of the set 8,000 connections I've got right now, six, seven hundred know me and pay an interest and engage with me. There's a hundred that have affected me and sixteen that have changed my life that I didn't know 20 months ago. So six hundred. It out of 22,000, you got to be okay with being authentic and being vulnerable and just knowing, hey, you know what, this this person just doesn't match. It doesn't mean they're bad or you're bad. It just means it's not a match. It doesn't matter. Move on, find your match.

Embracing Authenticity and Growth

SPEAKER_01 22:13

Right, right. Move on. Don't dwell just, you know, some will, some won't, so what? Right?

SPEAKER_00 22:19

So mindset. Get your head in the game, understand where you want to go, set your five, ten year vision for yourself, where you want to be, and do everything to get there. Because if you don't, you're living somebody else's dream and vision. So define your dream vision and start moving forward. And that means meeting people, facing the scary facts, and change yourself slowly. 15-30 minutes a day. Me writing books, I've now written two books, I'm busy with my third book right now. Done that. I've networked, I've met tons of people. I'm networked through the Yang Zhu inside of Atlanta now. I've from two 20 months ago to today. I mean, I am I am literally a different uh embodiment of a human being right now. It's just uh it's been a fascinating growth where you take on some of your challenges, but be graceful with yourself because it's hard and do small things, small things, and allow yourself to fail. And then the small things, and then celebrate your small wounds as you go to celebrate them, love them, move forward, and then don't get lazy. Push yourself again and again and again, and you will fail again and you'll get frustrated and you'll get hurt. And that's okay. Just put your foot down on the floor in the morning again and say, Right, what do I conquer today? How do I how do I do this?

SPEAKER_01 23:25

Right. I love that. I don't think I could have said that any better because it is so true. We do we do need to um be able to be connected, and we also have to know that we you know it's our journey is never straight and linear, it's always up and down, like there's always the highs and the lows. Yeah, you have to be able to be able to pick pick yourself up by the bootstraps and say it's okay. Yeah, right. It's okay.

SPEAKER_00 23:52

And some people will give you a hard time and they'll frown at you and they'll you know, so what? The important thing is being graceful with yourself, understanding your vision and mission, and your next step must be towards your mission or vision, not appeasing the person who just gave you a frown because they thought you did or said something stupid. Your vision and your act, your action has got to be tied to what your dream is. You gotta dream big and move towards that dream. It doesn't matter if you attain it or not, just move towards the dream. Because along the journey to the dream, you will achieve wonders that you never thought you could.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

Right. No, that's awesome. I absolutely love it. So, Andrew, how can people connect with you and get all the greatness that you have to offer?

SPEAKER_00 24:31

So I um am available on hourly retainers. I work with people in coaching and mentoring. You can find me on andrewbrumer.com. That'll point you to my website. There is my speaker page, the books are available there, the services offer, and as well as the LinkedIn, Andrew Brummer. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 24:48

Well, we will put all of that in the show notes. So, listeners, do me the favor uh, number one, connect with Andrew. Number two, make sure that you share this episode with your friends, your business associates, your colleagues. Uh, because it this, if you didn't get the theme, it's also about your brand and who you are. So everybody needs to know that and have their own brand uh and then step into it and go after it. Uh, know your mission and your vision. And I bet you there's going to be a lot of people that need to hear that. So connect with Andrew, then share this and make sure that you also subscribe so that you can get every one of these episodes um in your inbox. I'm Jacqueline Strominger, the host of Unstoppable Success. Thank you, Andrew, for Andrew, for being an amazing guest.

Expressions of Gratitude

SPEAKER_00 25:40

Thank you for inviting me. I appreciate you.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

It's a pleasure. Thank you so much for joining me on the Unstoppable Success podcast, where we don't just talk about growth, we leap toward it. If something today lit a fire within you, sparked a new idea, or gave you the extra push forward, please don't keep it to yourself. Share this episode and podcast with a friend, colleague, or fellow high achiever. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review, and most importantly, connect with me, Jacqueline Schuminger, at leaptoyoursuccess.com for coaching, community, and your next bold move. Keep leading with intention, keep building your network with purpose, and most of all, keep leaping because you were meant to be unstoppable.