How do feel when you hear the leaders in the industry say that you should be attending, at least, one to two networking events per week?
With caring for the kids, your
parents and pets there's not enough hours in the day to do your regular
rountine. How on earth are you going to make it events outside of the
house to network?
Do you say to yourself that you work from home so that you don't have to go out and "deal with" people?
Let me shine a light on the situation:
On Some Level You Network Every Day... !
Do you interact with anyone at any of the following even if it's only sometimes:
supermarket?
school?
dry cleaners?
a coffee?
do you talk to your mail carrier?
on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc?
If you said, "yes", to any of those then guess what? You're networking. Albeit, not the most effective way to grow your business.
If you don't see how that's networking here's an example.
When you're at the coffee shop ask someone if they know of a good bakery. Not only will someone know but they will gladly share the name and location with you. That's networking.
Or, post a question on social media and watch people willingly offer answers. Simply by thanking people for their assistance or asking more probing questions you are networking.
Yes, it really can be that simple. Again, not the most effective way to grow your business but it's a start of you didn't think you knew how or could.
If shyness is your reason for not attending networking events consider finding and attending a local Meetup (R) for shy people or introverts. A room full of people that feel exactly like you can be very empowering and could be the breakthrough that you need. Joining the PTA, if you have school aged children, is also networking.
I offer these very simple examples of networking to show you that conventions, conferences, networking organization, the local Chamber of Commerce are not the only ways to network.
If you are interested in exploring other avenues of networking due to shyness or because you just don't "do" people I hope you that you found this helpful.
Networking is just one of the many components when used together will effectively grow your business.
**Please note that limited networking, as in the examples above, is not enough to grow and sustain your business.
Do you say to yourself that you work from home so that you don't have to go out and "deal with" people?
Let me shine a light on the situation:
On Some Level You Network Every Day... !
Do you interact with anyone at any of the following even if it's only sometimes:
supermarket?
school?
dry cleaners?
a coffee?
do you talk to your mail carrier?
on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc?
If you said, "yes", to any of those then guess what? You're networking. Albeit, not the most effective way to grow your business.
If you don't see how that's networking here's an example.
When you're at the coffee shop ask someone if they know of a good bakery. Not only will someone know but they will gladly share the name and location with you. That's networking.
Or, post a question on social media and watch people willingly offer answers. Simply by thanking people for their assistance or asking more probing questions you are networking.
Yes, it really can be that simple. Again, not the most effective way to grow your business but it's a start of you didn't think you knew how or could.
If shyness is your reason for not attending networking events consider finding and attending a local Meetup (R) for shy people or introverts. A room full of people that feel exactly like you can be very empowering and could be the breakthrough that you need. Joining the PTA, if you have school aged children, is also networking.
I offer these very simple examples of networking to show you that conventions, conferences, networking organization, the local Chamber of Commerce are not the only ways to network.
If you are interested in exploring other avenues of networking due to shyness or because you just don't "do" people I hope you that you found this helpful.
Networking is just one of the many components when used together will effectively grow your business.
**Please note that limited networking, as in the examples above, is not enough to grow and sustain your business.
Until next time,
Nina
Nina
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