Week 6 EOC: Networking In America

In this week's episode of How To Make It In America, Cal and Ben are playing basketball. This is not just a regular basketball but is also a networking opportunity. Call and Ben are usually finding themselves in many networking situations that puts them at an advantage. This is something they do correctly. During the basketball game Cal is set to shoot but has the option of passing the ball to Ben. Instead of passing, he shoots the shot and misses. This is a symbolism to their relationship. To win, their objective is to use teamwork. It shows that sometimes Cal takes the initiative that he should sometimes not take and ends up in disaster. Throughout the season, he does this and takes action before he thinks. Sometimes he is successful in this and helps the two advance in journey to making their brand come to life. Other times, not so much.
In the show, they run into a friend and use this another opportunity to network. This is something they are very good at. They suggested lunch with the friend and ended up catching up on old ties. The friend gave them a source from Japan that frequently looked for new designers.
They took this reference before they got their jean sample. "Brands today represent more than a product, service or brand identity (the name and logo, design and voice of the brand)." (pg.27) When Cal and Ben got their sample, it was everything they didn't have in mind. It was horribly done and rose too high to Ben's waist. He was very upset and decided not to attend the meeting. This was something he did wrong. Cal decided he was going to go anyway and work his way around the situation. This was right. Even though the product was messed up, he still wanted to show his face which was an executive move. At the meeting, he had to wait to be seen and sat in the lobby with other people looking to start their brands. He did not receive anyone's business cards that could have helped him and opened a few doors in the future. This was what he did wrong.
Ben decided to show up last minute, apologizing for his behavior. He did the right thing by coming back and making amends. They went into the meeting and met with a Japanese retailer. Before they left, the Japanese man saw Ben's shirt and asked him about it's origins which Ben revealed was his own creation. He liked it a lot and asked Ben to produce 300 by next week to be shipped to Tokyo. Ben was lost for words while Cal took the opportunity for the both of them. Cal's initiative taking came in handy this time. That was something he did right again. "Branding is important because of its relationship and impact on the world we live in. Brands affect people’s lives simply because they are part of our daily choices and decisions." (pg. 32) Even though the designer didn't speak of their jeans, they would be in the door and could bring up their ideas once again in the future. This will build them their rapport and help them make new relationships with other designers that they wouldn't have the opportunity to make with before. Cal, ultimately, put Crisp in a better position this episode. "People are passionate about brands whether they support them or not. While some brands inevitably carry a financial status and equity that can make them powerful, they are ultimately accountable to their audience." (pg. 32)