{"id":823,"date":"2017-10-24T16:01:01","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T16:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/?p=823"},"modified":"2017-10-24T16:01:01","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T16:01:01","slug":"first-next-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/first-next-step\/","title":{"rendered":"First Next Step"},"content":{"rendered":"<link href=\"\/\/cdn-images.mailchimp.com\/embedcode\/classic-10_7.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }\n\t\/* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.\n\t   We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. *\/\n<\/style>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to be freelance sometimes.<\/p>\n<p>In early September I was having a crisis of employment. I had a project to work on but increasingly I was speaking to people who are unemployed, under-employed or \u201cgetting by\u201d. I had plans for giving some work out to help them but I knew it wouldn&#8217;t be close to enough and I couldn&#8217;t give away all I made or I\u2019d be broke.<\/p>\n<p>Then I had a dream and posted it on Facebook the next morning.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_facebook.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-826\" src=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_facebook.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"496\" height=\"253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_facebook.jpg 496w, https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_facebook-420x214.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The reaction was overwhelmingly positive and I felt emboldened to go ahead and plan something. I felt like I was helping.<\/p>\n<h4>Where and When?<\/h4>\n<p>My first task was to secure a location. I reached out to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehandlebar.ca\/\">The Handlebar<\/a> and asked if I could have a night to run an event. I&#8217;ve been part of other events at Handlebar and Rachel (the owner) is extraordinarily accommodating. She told me to look at the calendar and find a night. October 18th was free and that became the booking.<\/p>\n<h4>How?<\/h4>\n<p>Next task is to work out format. A networking event is fine but I&#8217;ve been to many networking events that amount to very little. I wanted to spur conversation. But I didn&#8217;t want to have 20 minute session in which people had a chance to get bored. And so starts the idea of three-minute elevator pitches. One hour of pitches, followed by networking. My hope being you saw someone speak and wanted to follow up afterward.<\/p>\n<h4>Who?<\/h4>\n<p>An event is not a personality. Or person, for that matter. I needed it to have a name. The longer I called it \u201ca networking event\u201d, the less legitimate it felt to me. So I needed a name. As it so happens, I&#8217;d registered a URL a couple of months previously I felt fit the core concept. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstnextstep.com\">First Next Step<\/a>. I&#8217;d registered in the hopes of starting some manner of e-learning pointer system but I got bored and realized who needs that? So First Next Step was repurposed for my event.<\/p>\n<p>It had no identity. If you\u2019ve ever seen how I design, you\u2019ll know I like minimal. I mean min. ih. mal. A silhouette or key-line is sufficient.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/kid_tee_silver.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-829\" src=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/kid_tee_silver.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"647\" height=\"637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/kid_tee_silver.jpg 647w, https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/kid_tee_silver-420x414.jpg 420w, https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/kid_tee_silver-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 647px) 100vw, 647px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I needed help with the identity. The person I knew who could knock this sort of task out of the park is Joshua Smith aka <a href=\"http:\/\/hydro74.com\">Hydro74<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hydro74.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/jameson.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Joshua is a long-time friend and he is fast and amazing. I knew if I asked him for help, and he had some downtime, he&#8217;d kill it. And he did. I asked and twelve hours later, he sent over a set of mocks. I could have cried.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_MOCKS.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-831\" src=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_MOCKS.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"388\" \/><\/a>I needed a vertical wordmark and a standard horizontal wordmark. Something that would work as an icon and header. So I opted for<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_horizontal.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-832\" src=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_horizontal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"64\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_vertical.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-833\" src=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_vertical.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"338\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I can\u2019t thank Hydro74 enough for his help. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.<\/p>\n<h4>Getting people there<\/h4>\n<p>The channels of where to try and build an audience already exist but I needed to augment my presence.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Website<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Exported a calendar file that could be downloaded to serve as a reminder. Embedded a map to The Handlebar and a basic description of me and the event itself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Facebook<\/strong>\u00a0-Set up a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/firstnextstepevents\/\">First Next Step<\/a> page and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/1483278865098683\">event<\/a> tying back to the 18th.<\/p>\n<p>Linked on my personal page to both to see who&#8217;d be interested. Posted a link to the event on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/739296976248323\/\">Toronto Ad Jobs &amp; Networking<\/a> run by Gerard Adderly. This is an active group and I felt if anyone was looking for work, this is where I&#8217;d get the best response for presenters.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Linkedin<\/strong> &#8211; Began posting occasionally about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:6319670002295279616\">First Next Step<\/a> to generate buzz.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Twitter<\/strong> &#8211; I tweeted about First Next Step a few times.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Hey TO-based peeps. Employment networking event October 18th. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Handlebar_TO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Handlebar_TO<\/a> I&#8217;ve called it First Next Step. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DTDf625WyE\">https:\/\/t.co\/DTDf625WyE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Hugh Elliott (@hughqelliott) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hughqelliott\/status\/910170688727732225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 19, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Also, I ended up setting up an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/firstnextstep\/\">Instagram<\/a> account and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_firstnextstep\">Twitter<\/a> account. Just in case.<\/p>\n<h4>Then I waited.<\/h4>\n<p>That\u2019s not true. I was busy with a project and it was winding down just as I was taking on pitch requests, answering questions, organizing, planning and generally making sure the night would happen. As each person reached out, I became more excited. A copywriting team here, a proof-reader there, an employer with a cool job. Then I\u2018d be in conversation somewhere and it would come up \u201cI\u2019ll be there!\u201d.<\/p>\n<h4>My mistake.<\/h4>\n<p>I was freaking out at the start of all this and having a pint with a friend. While I was freaking out, he asked if he could help. By the end of the night and many more pints, we\u2019d shaken hands and proclaimed \u201c50\/50!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Problem is, I never needed a partner. I needed a sounding board in that moment. After a week, I realized I could manage the event without anyone\u2019s help. I wasn\u2019t going to get silly and over-plan. I didn\u2019t need a massive website (the part for which he wanted to be a partner). I\u00a0 reached out to get another face to face so I could tell him this but the timing never worked out. The day of the event he asked if I needed him to come early to help set up and I laid it all out. Doing this event wasn&#8217;t going to make money. Its purpose is to get other people jobs. If I was to get a sponsor or something, it would be to provide free drinks or food. Anyway, I let him know and it likely damaged our friendship but if I don&#8217;t admit the incident here, I&#8217;d be less than honest. Sorry, Erich.<\/p>\n<h4>The night of<\/h4>\n<p>I walked in to The Handlebar at 7 pm and shook hands with Pete the bartender who also, as it happens run a cool diy garage called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.motorevere.com\/\">Moto Revere<\/a>. I set up some chairs, tested the projector and got to work saying hello, speaking to the pitchers and generally getting ready. It was a lot of fun.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_hugh.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-838\" src=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_hugh.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_hugh.jpg 500w, https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/FNS_hugh-420x315.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Pitches<\/p>\n<p>Were would First Next Step be without the elevator pitches? Nowhere. Here, in order of appearance are the pitchers.<\/p>\n<p>Hugh Elliott &#8211; hughqelliott.com<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">Clair Sautner &#8211; Shoppers Drug Mart Digital<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Pietro Cammalleri &#8211; Proofreader<\/p>\n<p>Natalie Zina Walschots &#8211; Writer and social media strategist<\/p>\n<p>Andrew Tedford &#8211; Wickedly Sinful<\/p>\n<p>Audra Williams and Robin Sandhu &#8211; Writers\/storytellers<\/p>\n<p>Simon Conlin &#8211; Producer<\/p>\n<p>Simone Abel &#8211; Digital Strategy &amp; User Experience<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Eugene Andruszczenko &#8211; Lab of Forward Thinking (LOFT)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Tihana Deanovic &#8211; FORREC<\/span><\/p>\n<p>James Marshall &#8211; Writer<\/p>\n<p>Keith Prestwich &#8211; Writer<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstnextstep.com\/FNS_October2017\">keynote<\/a> has been uploaded to the First Next step website. Feel free to take a look!<\/p>\n<p>The night went as I hoped and I had a crowd of 50 &#8211; 60 people. I was blown away. Once the pitches were complete, I opened the floor to questions and the first and only question yelled at me from the darkness was \u201cWhen\u2018s the next one?\u201d. I blurted out \u201cI don\u2019t know. Maybe spring?\u201d So yeah, maybe spring 2018 there&#8217;ll be another First Next Step.<\/p>\n<p>Want to hear about the next event or potentially other, infrequent updates?<\/p>\n<div id=\"mc_embed_signup\">\n<form id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" class=\"validate\" action=\"\/\/hughqelliott.us16.list-manage.com\/subscribe\/post?u=e4a2b791b92b4290df40812f5&amp;id=4a395d9db0\" method=\"post\" name=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" novalidate=\"\" target=\"_blank\">\n<div id=\"mc_embed_signup_scroll\">\n<p><!--\n\n\n<h2>Subscribe to our mailing list<\/h2>\n\n\n--><\/p>\n<div class=\"indicates-required\"><span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span> indicates required<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\"><label for=\"mce-EMAIL\">Email Address <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span><br \/>\n<\/label><br \/>\n<input id=\"mce-EMAIL\" class=\"required email\" name=\"EMAIL\" type=\"email\" value=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\"><label for=\"mce-FNAME\">First Name <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span><br \/>\n<\/label><br \/>\n<input id=\"mce-FNAME\" class=\"required\" name=\"FNAME\" type=\"text\" value=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\"><label for=\"mce-LNAME\">Last Name <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span><br \/>\n<\/label><br \/>\n<input id=\"mce-LNAME\" class=\"required\" name=\"LNAME\" type=\"text\" value=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div id=\"mce-responses\" class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups--><\/p>\n<div style=\"position: absolute; left: -5000px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><input tabindex=\"-1\" name=\"b_e4a2b791b92b4290df40812f5_4a395d9db0\" type=\"text\" value=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"clear\"><input id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe\" class=\"button\" name=\"subscribe\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type='text\/javascript' src='\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/downloads.mailchimp.com\/js\/mc-validate.js'><\/script><script type='text\/javascript'>(function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);<\/script><br \/>\n<!--End mc_embed_signup--><br \/>\nThank you for reading all of that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-summary\">\nIt\u2019s hard to be freelance sometimes. In early September I was having a crisis of employment. I had a project&hellip;\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/first-next-step\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;First Next Step&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[13,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-event","category-public-speaking","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=823"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":840,"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823\/revisions\/840"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hughqelliott.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}