The Candy Jar

Friday: Didn't have to Work! Yay for Independence!
Saturday: I was in the office for 30 minutes and that was it!

This is a post that is not so "business as usual" but wanted to post it to give you a feel for some ideas that you can play with in your internship.

My best friend gave me a basket full of candy and a candy jar. With regards to the jar she said, "Put this on your desk filled with candy. I know how much you love candy..."

Come to find out she is genius. It has been the best "getting to know you" tool in the tool box. The Analyst posted his Secret Sauce, and this is mine--The Candy Jar.

So initially it had candy in it and I ate it all. Took me about 3 hours to eat it all. So I had to refill it and the internship had not started yet. So I purchased these Toosie Roll Frooties. They are delicious. Don't confuse them with the bigger tootsie rolls that come in Lime and Vanilla, these are tiny little ones that come in fruit punch and smooth cherry. Google them and buy a bag if you have never tried them.

So I mixed about five flavors and put them in the jar and like a fisherman waiting for a bite they sat on my desk. At first, I was the only one consuming them. But then the magic little jar tranformed things.

A banker would come in, "Hey, could you do--what are these?"

"Oh these are frooties, you have to try them." The banker would take a handful and continue. Sometimes bankers would come in and I would say, "Have you tried these before?"

"No, what are they?"

"Try them you will like them."

You gotta keep in mind the stealth here. I didn't show up to some meeting with a bag full of these things like the bagel incident, I let the bankers come to me. The next thing you know I get some return visits.

"Dude these red ones are good."

"Good have some more! Did you try the green ones? I love the green ones. Hey, if you ever want more, you know where to come. If I am not at my desk, just take them."

What is genius about this candy jar is that bankers can't just come in and take a handful and walk out...they psychologically have to say something; spark some kind of conversation.

What I like is that bankers I have yet to meet formally will come, introduce themselves and ask if they can try some. I have yet to have an MD walk in and ask for some, but analyst to VP you bet!

The best part is seeing the side of bankers that no one gets to see--the kid-at-heart. Their little grins when I start to pour a couple in their hand. It's fun to see a banker peek his or her head in and not even have to say anything, they just smile and I know what they are thinking. I motion to them to step in and they hold out their hand.

I have it down now to where I know what flavor each banker likes particularly. So I have ventured out and will carry a couple in my pocket, and if I see they are away from their desk, I place a couple right next to their key board or on their mouse pad. Then I get the email, "Dude thanks, I was just going to come by for some."

As a disclaimer, you have to be careful, it is kind of like fishing. You can't just yank on the line at the first sign of a bite. You got to slowly and patiently reel them in. The stuff makes for good conversation. Having the jar on my desk has been key to building relationships not banking related.

So here is the idea if you consider doing something like this. #1 buy candy that is individually wrapped. No one wants t stick their and in a jar that you and all the other bankers have too. #2 Buy an assortment, not everyone likes dark chocolate miny milkey way bars. #3 Let them come to you, AND if you don't have a well established relationship yet, don't offer candy. Wait until you are at the (and this is the bet way I can describe it) "cool point"...when you know that you are cool with the banker, or wait until you have broken the ice. #4 Lastly, be careful not to become the "summer analyst with candy" you want to be known as the the one who works hard or has great modeling skills or listening skills. You would hate to have the candy be the highlight of your exposure to bankers. If you notice bankers saying, "hey candy guy!" Maybe tuck the candy away for a week or so.

Good luck!