As I blogged about earlier, one of my professional goals this year is to do more networking. And you know what? Networking can be fun, even for introverts like me. Really. Take yesterday's Downtown Women's Club event at the South Shore Natural Science Center, for example.
Once I freshened my makeup, consolidated my essentials and business cards/literature into one easy-to-carry wristlet, hit the road and drove right past the location, did a U-turn, found parking, got over the butterflies, put a big smile on my face and affixed my nametag, I was ready to network (the embarassment of ordering a glass of wine at the cash bar and then realizing I did not have any cash not withstanding).
Wine certainly boosts the fun factor, but it's also nice to get out of the office and see new things. I never even realized we had a science center nearby! But upon entering the room filled with people (and mounted animal heads) I began to worry: how will I possibly get around to meet with enough (of the "right") people in the next hour to make the evening away from home worthwhile? How do I prioritize? Who do I talk with first?
Wine in one hand and wristlet in the other, I walked (hurriedly) around trying to catch glimpses of company names on nametags to find those people most likely to buy my products and services. Finding the nametag strategy futile (shortsighted and left my glasses in the car) I finally inserted myself into a conversation with two people who were in my path. One was an insurance agent and the other a retired furniture maker, and after getting to know them a bit I remembered something important that I had learned earlier in my career; that networking is really about building relationships (and trust) with people who are more than just sales targets. They are businesspeople, but they are also mothers, fathers, yoga enthusiasts, musicians, sisters, brothers, animal lovers, grandparents, cancer survivors, nonprofit board members, folks who've just lost their jobs, the list goes on...
Whew! What a relief. I could just relax and enjoy meeting new people and making meaningful connections with a cross-section of professionals who are also trying to develop their businesses. And we surely have even more in common.
During the event, I wound up re-connecting with folks I've met at other events plus meeting some great new people, having stimulating conversations, and receiving some helpful business advice and sales leads... and yes, having fun! I'm sure I will see many of these folks again at future events, and in the meantime we'll keep in touch through LinkedIn.
Whatever their profession or current situation, each person there last night is connected to hundreds of other people in some way through their complex lives. The moral of this story? Build meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships and your sales will grow organically. Beautiful!
I can't wait for my next networking event.
Check out the Downtown Women's Club, there are chapters in many cities around the US:
http://downtownwomensclub.com
The South Shore Natural Science Center in Norwell is worth discovering with your family!
http://www.ssnsc.org
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