Notworking Networking; what's it all about?

I hope by now, you’ve seen at least one of my irreverent videos promoting the ‘Notworking Networking’ events, and may even question what it’s all about?

I’m the first to admit that promoting a networking event where you can’t discuss business is a bit of a stretch. Time in the office is precious, so why would you cut out early to Notwork? Harder still, how will you sell the concept to your boss (unless of course you are the boss; in which case skip the rest of this and book now!)

So, let me explain how this works and, how, rather surprisingly, you are very likely to make great new connections and do business.

Barring lottery winners and lazy recipients of inherited wealth, we all work. But how many of us simply go through the motions during the day to fuel our enjoyment in the evening and at weekends? I know the answer to this one and unfortunately it is a lot.

I’ve always exposed an alternate mindset. Work should be fun and if it isn’t, it needs to change… Various studies have shown that happier people are invariably more successful. I’ve always been a pleasure seeker and think that networking should be no different.

As a very confident chap (ask anyone who knows me), my skin still crawls at the prospect of going into a room of strangers and looking to engage them in my business, in the same way they will seek to engage me. I’m sure there are folk who thrive here, but I don’t and know most of my peers see networking as a tougher part of the job rather than fun!

This is what inspired me to tweak the process and create the Notworking Network.

Depending on where you do your research, you are four to seven times more likely to work with someone who is recommended to you, and this is the essence of Notworking Networking.

By taking away talk of business and direct pitching we allow people to relax, enjoy their time and genuinely make friends.

In the non-pressurised environment, we can have fun and (here’s the crucial bit) make true connections based on something more than the need for business.

By providing a speaker, some games and general ‘social lubrication’ the convivial atmosphere creates something of an old school environment where there is no expectation to satisfy KPI’s or achieve sales targets, but just to let it happen. However counter intuitive this may sound; the fact remains, it works.

With over 320 people attending our first four events, and awesome feedback from those who attended, we're taking a summer break and returning in September - bigger, better and a whole lot wetter!

If you like the cut of my jib, you can get check out our business here; https://www.smithkinbaker.com

Further reading

David Bolchover - The Living Dead https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Dead-Switched-Shocking-Office/dp/184112656X

Sonja Lyubomirsky, Laura King, Ed Diener - The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success? https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-benefits-of-frequent-positive-affect%3A-does-lead-Lyubomirsky-King/20bc89b0e6eadeec1d3cbc006e2f5924ac9ed0e1

Further viewing

Bruce Daisley – the ‘Joy of Work’ keynote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njeSTq7VxaA&t=246s

Steve Jobs - Stanford speech excerpt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5aY6rMbOBo

Further Listening

Hard Fi – Live for the weekend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGardUiWjR4