True Professional or Fake Big Shot: Exposing Six Types of Social Brokers

The most common type in chambers of commerce: people whose business cards are plastered with titles like president or advisor, who always talk about resources, connections, and government relations, but have no real business revenue. Their words are grand, but their deeds are empty. Recognize them, and you won't be fooled. After three questions, it's clear whether they're genuine or fake.

These six types of middlemen have one thing in common:
Their titles outweigh their actual businesses; socializing outweighs deep commitment. Three to five dinner parties a week, spending far more time networking than managing operations. The fuller the business card, the emptier the actual work. If you come across someone constantly urging you to pay a deposit or guarantee fee, be extra vigilant.

Three questions to read a person: ask about their upfront investment, ask about successful cases, ask about contracts. Someone with a real project will answer you openly; someone with a fake project will find all sorts of excuses to evade. "Let's be friends first, then talk business"? Sorry, let's talk clearly first, then be friends.

By Diagrammatic School