There are days when I long for an on/off switch in my brain.
There are days in which I wish to only plop down on the couch and watch television all day, or play video games, and not move a muscle.
There are days in which I would love to completely ignore my texts, emails and phone calls for just a short period of blissful silence.
However, I own a business. A successful one, and for that I am grateful; and with that comes the importance of staying close to those who can help and who have already helped.
I network, and I network constantly. I am an inveterate networker, and it is something that now is in my body, like a nasty case of the flu, which no medicine will cure, even if I desired such a thing.
People sometimes ask me, why I network so much, and why it is so important. The answer is a bit of a paradox because it is simple, yet complex.
The easy part to explain is that nothing beats face to face contact to describe who you are, what you are, and what you do. Despite all the technology that we have, nothing beats a good, old fashioned handshake and conversation. Ask yourself, who would you want to do business with: someone you’ve never met, or someone that you’ve had one-on-one experience with?
The more complex part of networking involves the constant rush of attending parties, mixers, concerts, charity benefits, churches, mentorship meetings, etc. There should be a certain strategy behind what events you attend in regards to business development, the client you hope to attract, and in some instances, location – an element that sometimes falls out of consideration. Driving all over town without a travel strategy in mind will only give you a case of road rage and a migraine when seeing gas prices after those frequent fill-ups.
So, remember, think before you network.
