Just be friends with them first man. If they're buying what you're selling it'll come to the surface eventually.
That is a great point, but I don't think it universally applies. Lets be real in the business world not everybody is friends, maybe the best salespeople can make it seem that way, but I don't think it would work or even be appropriate to try to become friends with a business contact before doing business. If you get along and the business goes well then you may develop a relationship that is beyond strictly business and this has no doubt played a role in peoples and businesses success.
Also the people I am talking about contacting are mainly family friends of my parents or parents of my friends. Basically people who can and would be willing to help but that I won't likely become friends with. It would be bizarre to try and be friends with them before asking for help, simultaneously it would be rude to ask for help without being friendly first. It is trying to walk that line.
Being that they are family friends many have told me to contact them, but then I waited on it and time happens and while the offer still stands it has to be approached right. I'm not normally too autistic about this kind of thing, but its got me in a bind.
I'm thinking something like: 'Hey its rusty, remember me from xyz? I am studying abc and hoping to get a job doing asdf.' would be appropriate.
Basically I don't want to sound like a nigger, but I want to be clear that I am asking them for a job or to point me towards someone who can.
I wish I could help out, but Im lost here myself. Tried to do it once or twice at meetups, but I may be just too socially awkward at the moment to carry out these maneuvers. I've decided that the best way to learn was to learn to communicate so I'm making a conscious effort to communicate with people. I do know, however, that just reading about this, wont solve this. It seems practice is the only answer.
Yeah at the moment I am worrying about contacting people who will be receptive, but that makes me doubly concerned about making a good impression. As far as meetups and in person networking events I dread those. I think you are right that it all comes down to practice. I used to dread doing presentations and now I've done enough that it doesn't bother me too much. It is definitely better to try and fail than to miss an opportunity.
