CASE FILE: Networking

Subject: Edmund Kemper Known for: The Co-ed Killer Estimated victims: 10 Operational period: 1964–1973

In my youth, I was often told I was too imposing for public service. At six-foot-nine, I was a monument of a man, rejected by the state highway patrol simply for being too difficult to fit into a standard cruiser. But in the professional sphere, your physical presence is your opening handshake. You must learn to disarm. If you are naturally intimidating—whether by intellect or stature—you must master the art of the gentle giant. Speak softly. Offer assistance. A stranded commuter or a lost colleague is a golden opportunity. When you offer someone a lift, make sure your vehicle is a sanctuary of safety. They must feel, from the moment they step inside, that they are completely in your hands.

True networking is not about pitching yourself; it is about active listening. You want to get inside their heads. Analyze their patterns, their vulnerabilities, what makes them tick. When I speak to people, I use my voice—which many have called quite soothing, even therapeutic—to lower their guard. Ask open-ended questions. Let them talk about their mothers, their frustrations, their daily routines. The more they open up, the easier it is to find that perfect point of separation. You want to isolate what makes them valuable to you.

Finally, the follow-up is where most amateurs fail. They make a connection and then let it go cold. When you find a contact of high value, you must commit to keeping them close. Do not let them slip away into the crowd. A successful encounter ends with a clean transition—taking the relationship to a more private, focused environment where you have their undivided attention. Once you have successfully secured a connection, it should stay with you forever. Treat every contact as a permanent addition to your personal collection.

File closed. Results pending.