I'm getting ready to go to a networking event, and I'm trying to get excited. Actually, I'm not even getting ready. I'm ready. I'm sitting at a coffeehouse 3 blocks from the event because I got to downtown Chicago early (to beat the traffic) and all I have to do is walk over there. But I'm tired. It's a Thursday. It's been a long week already. I've had a busy day full of ups and downs. Maybe you know the feeling? I don't necessarily want to go meet new people. It would be soooo easy to sit here, grab dinner, and then just go home. My lethargy has nothing to do with the event or the people there. It's going to be great - a … [Read more...]
Are you the Right Kind of Networker?
What kind of networker are you? In my experience, people fall into one of two categories. It’s an incredibly important distinction. The professionals in the first category put in an enormous amount of effort and still fail miserably at building their network. Those in the second find their careers blossoming because of their business relationships. Transactional vs. Relational Networking The Transactional Networker The first type is the transactional networker. People that follow this philosophy see networking as a series of brief encounters. And the goal of each encounter is to get something from it. These are the people at … [Read more...]
Don’t Like Other Networking Events? 5 Steps to Running Your Own!
These days it seems like networking events are springing up everywhere. No matter where you live and work, you could find a networking breakfast or cocktail reception to go to every day of the week. Many of these events brag about how large they are, and how many people you can meet by attending. There’s nothing wrong with going to these large events, but many people find them overwhelming, and it’s hard to make good connections in the hustle and bustle of a crowded room. What can you do...? Try this: put together your own networking event. It’s not as hard as it sounds, and it can be very rewarding. The goal here is not to have … [Read more...]