Today’s guest went from high school English teacher to Broadway producer in under two years. How? Relationships. He is a social catalyst who believes in the power of making meaningful connections for others.His success led him to develop a methodology that he teaches through his company Small Pond Enterprises which specializes in relationship design for founders, authors, and speakers interested in playing a bigger game. He works with thought leaders to curate, extend, and leverage their existing networks.He cemented his reputation as a connector by founding ConnectorCon, a conference for a powerful community of thoughtful connectors who recognize the power of living in a world of abundance rather than scarcity -- and he co-hosts the Access to Anyone podcast.Please join me in welcoming Michael Roderick.Would you leave an honest rating and review on iTunes? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration!On the Schmooze is on C-Suite Radio.Listen to our show and many other greatbusiness podcasts at C-SuiteRadio.com.In this episode we explore:how being a teacher taught him the art of truly understanding what another person is going through, and how important it is to offer empathy before focusing on your own wants and needs.his mnemonic device for adding value to other people’s lives: RISE-UP.his thoughts on diversity: “there are no diversity problems in interests.” If you connect with people around shared interests you can broaden the diversity of your network.how he separates his work environment from his home environment by not ever bringing his work stuff into his non-work areas of his house.his process for being a superconnector: how he uses a spreadsheet and analyzes conversations to help connect people who will bring value to each others lives.his views on connections, and how people often keep draining people in their lives for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. However, “we have complete control over who we have in our lives,” and when we let go of the ones who don’t fit, we make room for others who do.What were the key takeaways you plan to put into practice this week and benefit from for years to come? Share your thoughts in the comments.LINKSMichael Roderick on LinkedIn and Twitterwww.SmallPondEnterprises.com and Facebook Pagewww.ConnectorCon.comwww.AccesstoAnyonePodcast.comBooks mentioned in this episode:“Your Brain at Work” by David Rock“Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences” by Robbie SamuelsStay Connected:Interested in booking me to speak? Learn about my Art of the Schmooze session on effective and inclusive networking, and the other sessions I offerInterested in individual or group coaching? Schedule a 20-minute phone chat to discuss working togetherConnect with me on LinkedIn@RobbieSamuels on Twitter and InstagramNew to my website? Start hereOn the Schmooze podcast archive and show notes for recent episodesSubscribing and leaving a rating and review on iTunes helps this podcast be discovered.Need help using iTunes? 10 Steps to Subscribe, Rate & Review on iTunes. Thank you!Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links above are “affiliate links”. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my listeners. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”