July 21st, 2025

This past weekend I had the largest event yet for my professional meetup club, For The Firsts.

Titled: First Fest, this was a 4-hour mini-conference of introductions, guided networking, and a special fireside conversation.

But one of my favorite moments was one of the first - an icebreaker activity we did called "First Ask, First Offer"

So often at networking events, you just spend the evening getting pitched or sold to.

And I get it, you want to grow your business, or make the one contact you need to get your next job. But that focus on transactional conversation can really dull the experience for others in search of community or a deeper connection.

So what I loved about this activity is that it forced you to also reveal what you need help with, what you're looking for, and what support you may need

It was incredible hearing from founders who could offer so much to the members of their community, but may struggle to get quality guests on their podcast, or expand beyond their immediate network. It also created so many future conversations throughout the day.

If you want to learn how to make your own "First Ask, First Offer", check out the first impression section of this week's newsletter.

I enjoyed this so much, I just might have to make it a mainstay at our future events!

Welcome to First Things First. I'm so glad you're here.

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Colin Rocker Founder, @careercolin & For The Firsts ​Instagram | LinkedIn​

How the writer of the Beyond Burnout newsletter manages her own burnout.

My viral One Pager template got me promoted twice in two years.

Instead of an elevator pitch, think about what your first ask, first offer could be:

Your first offer is something you could offer someone else. It's your professional or personal expertise, or the products and services in your business.

Your first ask is the opposite. What do you need a hand with? Whose insight or support could move you to the next step in your journey? This vulnerability may be the key to getting the support you need.

​Lillian Zhang, A friend and fellow career-focused content creator, just revealed her new book on navigating money, and I'm excited to get my hands on this one. You can check it out here.

I'll be catching Fantastic Four this weekend. As a comic nerd and Marvel stan, I'm pumped for this one. Especially since I was able to snag a good seat at the largest IMAX theater in the country that just so happens to be a few blocks from me.

My next event for my meetup club, For The Firsts, will be on Wednesday, August 27th.

We have merch! Grab a For The First Tee or Hat if you'd like. If you grab the bundle, you'll save a ton (and they ship free).

It took 7 months, but I'm finally grabbing brunch with a father I met back in January. Take this as a reminder that, even if it takes a while, it's worth consistently reaching out to those you admire to see if they have a moment to spare.

No one warned me about the hidden costs of fatherhood.

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It really means the world to me that you show up to explore these topics with me each week, so thank you for reading. If something above resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone else who might need it too.

If you have any feedback, you can always reply or email me at me@colinrocker.com

And remember that you’re not behind. You’re just building something different.

Chat soon,

Colin