Adrie's Blog

Wasting Time

Over the past few months, I have looked at people that are "networking" with growing frustration. I observe them at work, and wonder whether they have any clue as to what they are actually doing. It's the same with diets...all of a sudden there's this new diet, with a brand new guru and book and the whole world starts talking about it, without actually looking into it, researching if it is the right thing for them or not. They miss the subleties that make the diet actually work - like - you have to exercise alongside it. People are always looking for the next magic, that short cut that makes it work. I know for sure that if with every new diet book sold, if we could collate the unread pages and turn it back into forest, we'd have a huge deep wood to dwell in....

How many network events don't you attend, where everyone wants to meet you and get your card saying they will be in touch...only to never hear from them again? Often, they don't know what the network meeting is about, but were just roped in by a friend that told them to join in. That in itself is fine of course, but even then, it is better to prepare! People attend without any preparation, no goal and no follow-through.

If you look on the other hand at how carefully a dating profile is prepared, you do wonder why people care so little about their careers or the growth of their business. Isn't it equally important as the relationship(s) in your life? Entrepreneurs are busy people, all the more reason to use the time you spend, wisely and efficiently.

For me the following things are always important:

- Do I have a good, solid profile on EFactor, LinkedIn or Facebook
- What is this network event about, is the theme and/or speaker of interest to me?
- What is the audience, are they peers or potential customers?
- Who will be there
- Can I select maybe 3 to 5 people that I would absolutely love to meet and google them beforehand?
- Can I find their profile on the above social networks to learn more?
- do we have people or things in common?
- Can I spare the time to follow up within 48 hours. If you cannot, you might as well not go.

In short, you have to set yourself an objective and be determined to achieve it. If not, you may as well invite a group of your friends for a BBQ, you'll have a more relaxed time at the very least!

Adrie

PS One of my own pet peeves is that out of the hundreds of people I have connected to each other at events, they don't have the courtesy to keep you in the loop on what happened with that connection. Often you find out months later that they are doing great, and have established a new partnership.