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In The Media

What They DO Teach You on Sports Center About Networking (in Silicon Valley)

by Larry Chiang on April 15, 2016

By Larry Chiang
Golden State Warriors are based in Silicon Valley. I recognize a pattern that reduces networking friction. It’s where all the members of an ecosystem or team can share thoughts, brainstorm solutions, and message each other.
Larry Chiang (@LarryChiang)
Silicon Valley, networking. #ch4 [tis FRICTIONLESS] twitter.com/timkawakami/st…


Rob Hayes said at a networking event I hosted, “Getting in touch with me is easy. If you think networking with me is hard, then you will find the world outside of Silicon Valley is wayyy harder.” He is a VC at First Round.

In the sports center, ESPN example, Tim Kawakami asked Coach Steve Kerr:
Q.  When you got that text from Luke at 3 a.m., were you awake, and then did you, like, stay awake and ponder that?  How did that affect your sleeping before the game? 

Answer:

Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami)
Steve Kerr on Iguodala, Nick U’Ren’s idea, the Curry/Klay probability, the Warriors’ competitiveness, and much… bayareane.ws/1ISbjmm


Pay attention to the fact that assistants feel comfortable enough to share a middle-of-the-night epiphany. 

 
Larry Chiang (@LarryChiang)
How many video assistants can text the head coach. #Ch4 twitter.com/tasmelas/statu…


Not to name names or call out NBA organizations not in Silicon Valley…, but other coaching staffs are not wired like this. 


Tas Melas (@TasMelas)
“Chemistry on a staff is just as important as chemistry on a team.” –Steve Kerr in the preseason. So befitting right now re: Nick U’Ren.

Chemistry means that the components are allowed to mix. Companies and industries outside of Silicon Valley have a lot of networking friction. Friction is bad. 
 
For example, State Farm has the most convoluted email nomenclature system. It’s not just Steve dot Kerr @warriors dot com
 
 
Another example is contacting FedEx. The Memphis Tennessee mindset is 
– hide FedEx office telephone numbers
– hide behind Twitter and do not read consumer complaint tweets. 
 
Contrast this with the founder of Apple computer, Steve Jobs. His accessibility was clear. All of Palo Alto knew 
– Steve @apple.com
– sJobs (at) apple dot com
 
Me, I texted him. 408-8xx-xxxx. 
 
Tim Cook is the new CEO. He is just first initial, last name at APPLE (dot) com. 
 
Larry Chiang (@LarryChiang)
In Silicon Valley, summer interns text and email the ceo/founders. Max at #Internpalooza#ch4 twitter.com/sportscenter/s…


Friction in networking. 

Friction in sales. 
Friction in giving credit. 
SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)
Steve Kerr credited video coordinator Nick U’Ren with the idea to start Andre Iguodala over Andrew Bogut. es.pn/1GjbZh3

Friction hurt business results. Now, you’re paying attention to what I pay attention to here in Silicon Valley. 

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