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I was 19 and sitting at a table on the patio of a famous restaurant in Los Angeles with my girlfriend (now wife) and her loud family and friends.  We had killed 4 or 5 bottles of wine, and somehow the conversation drifted to us speaking loudly about third base and all aspects of it.  Needless to say, all derogatory terms imaginable were used and nothing ended up being untouched as it was a rather in depth talk.

About 10 minutes into the conversation, I notice a woman and her date crying because they are laughing so hard while overhearing us.  So in my tipsy state, I decided to reach out and include them in the conversation as I drove home a point by pointing at him and saying: “That guy knows what I’m talking about.” As a result of my olive branch, they became very active participants.

As the conversation simmered down, and the man’s girlfriend was trying to guess what one of the guys at our table did for a living (she guessed director for X- Rated Movies), we came around to formalities.  I asked the man what he did for a living, and he informed me that he is an executive for a major TV network (hint, it’s target audience is guys 18-24).  Well, at the time I was a film major (long story), and this was my chance. 

“Oh really!?” I said, “I’m in film school!”

His Response: “You’re in film school?  Do you need an internship?  Because I need an intern.”

I got his card, and contacted his assistant the next day.  After an interview, for some sober formalities, I started work the next week.

The moral of this very true story, is that every thing you do is a networking opportunity.  You never know how things will work out, or who you will meet.  So you always have to be prepared to take advantage of the situations presented, and don’t be afraid to go out on a limb.

Because of this chance meeting I got a position that I probably could not have gotten on my own, working at an awesome company for a semester.  This specific TV network (or conglomerate of networks), has a very in depth interview and internship process which has to be applied for at least a semester in advance.  A few of the other interns even moved to LA for a semester just to be a part of the internship.

Now, because of a drunken conversation about third base, I have something on my resume that peaks interest, and is consistently the first thing I am asked about in interviews.  However, now when I’m asked about how I got the job, I respond with “I was in the right place, at the right time.”

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