"Small Talk" a Newsletter for Community Builders

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Small Talk, a bi-weekly newsletter crafted to facilitate meaningful conversations and connections across various industries. I am creating Small Talk to be more than just another random email that you get—I want it to be a direct line from network and their networks. I want this to be a bridge between a basket of great minds from multiple industries: hospitality to tech and beyond.

Vision and Purpose Small Talk is designed to direct readers towards a platform for learning and networking. Over the years, I have honed a skill that has been instrumental in merging content creation with community engagement, addressing tight community pitfalls such as the lack of overlap opportunities. For example, if you’re a bartender or real estate agent and you only spend your time talking and hanging out with bartenders and real estate agents, then you might find yourself more limited in opportunities in comparison to someone who is putting themselves in front of diverse groups of people.

By integrating this newsletter with a bi-weekly podcast that I’m also calling “Small Talk” and tying it to real-world events and issues, Small Talk will be able to offer a comprehensive approach to professional growth and networking.

If you know me from my social media content, then you might recognize that I am more mobile than most. Working as a marketer for various clients requires me to be wherever the hotspot is. I know most of you reading this newsletter are not quite as mobile. With this direct communication line, I can bring in some of the top experts for interviews and have them not only give us knowledge on trends as it relates to the community makeup but also provide a space to get your questions answered.

Who is this for: Although my dominant history is in hospitality, I have had the pleasure of working with clients across all industries, and as such, it has provided me with chops and vocabulary adoption to mix and mingle wherever. With this “Small Talk,” I hope to provide these same chops to you all. Ideally, you get some information and value from the messages I send out, and you take it into your daily life and utilize it to build cross-industry relationships, opportunities, or even increase business for yourself.

In short, I think this newsletter will be great for exceptional service industry veterans (seasoned bartenders, bar managers, and innovative owners looking to get an edge). But it also caters to a broader non-service industry audience by making their stories the highlight, including investors looking for opportunities, influencers sharing their trade secrets, event curators looking for venue partners, startups looking for employees, and small businesses eager to forge meaningful connections and explore new opportunities.

What to Expect Each Week: 

Industry Icebreakers: Practical conversation starters to help bridge the gap between the service and non-service sectors. Examples:

• Hospitality (Food/Beverage): "Have you noticed the trend in cocktail lounges and speakeasy in the city becoming? Why do you think investors and operators and shifting towards that trend vs the safe sports bar?”

• Real Estate: “Major city suburbs are growing at an very fast pace, largely due to the development investment they’ve put into the spaces. You now have inner city entertainment available. How does this trend affect inner city house pricing when these homes are older and no longer the only places considers lifestyle convenient?”

• Finance: “ With the digitization of financial products on the rise such as crypto and tokenization - how do you think this trend is going affect the private equity industry (use this time to drop some insight on how you want to raise money from investors for a business idea).”

• Healthcare/Wellness: "There's a lot more talk about mental health these days. Do you see any benefits also addressing it head on in your medical practice (or even workout classes if they are in fitness)"

• General Personal Development: How do you fit learning into your busy schedule, and how does it help your career?"

Additional Highlights:

• Community Spotlights: Inspirational stories from our community members like Karla, a realtor who transitioned from customer service to real estate, leveraging hospitality skills to excel in her field.

• Current Trends: Insightful analysis on the evolving service industry landscape, focusing on the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements and market shifts.

• Exclusive Access (In-Person & Virtual): Opportunities for subscribers to engage in brainstorming sessions, workshops, and special events that facilitate direct interaction with industry experts.

• Your Feedback Matters Your input is crucial. After diving into this issue, please comment with your thoughts, suggest topics, and let us know how Small Talk can serve you better. We envision Small Talk as a dynamic platform that evolves based on subscriber feedback. This community-driven approach ensures that each issue is tailored to the needs and interests of its readers, making every edition a valuable resource for professional and personal development.

• Join Us Subscribe to Small Talk for a fresh perspective on building your network and enhancing your professional journey. Engage with us, share your thoughts, and let us help you navigate the complexities of today's professional world. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for extended content and discussions.

About Me: I'm John Pittman, founder of B2C Creative and co-founder of the OTM Network. I’m also a deeply rooted consultant, entrepreneur and content creator within the hospitality industry. Over the past decade, I've transformed my passion for bartending into a thriving business that spans event management, media production, and digital marketing. My side quests, including SpeedRailz and Craft Clash, have revolutionized how bartenders connect and compete, fostering a vibrant community across Texas.

My most recent initiative, Real Estate Social Tx, merges real estate visibility with investor networking, enhancing local market dynamism. At the heart of my work is a commitment to creating spaces where professionals can grow both online and offline, leveraging media to build lasting relationships and drive community engagement. If you're looking to elevate your brand or forge new partnerships, I'm here to guide you through every step, ensuring your next project not only meets but exceeds your expectations (Just shoot me an email [email protected] to see what that looks like).