That thing we did before we did marketing

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In 2023 we snipe and whinge about the lack of reach on Facebook and how LinkedIn stripped a chunk of our followers away from us.

But once upon a time we didn't even have television, radio or a newspaper to tell us what buy and who to buy it from.

We just had to shake hands, kiss babies and let people talk about our good work for us.

Yet, this “networking” has such a bad rap right now.

What exactly are we talking about when we talk about networking?

I've had some great experiences with networking and some awful ones.

And while you'd assume that I am quite extroverted, the reality is, that out of my own space, I'm very much an introvert. I don't like crowds. I don't like noise. I don't drink alcohol.

And those are all the things that many of us think networking is.

A noisy room full of equally noisy people all clamouring for attention, getting progressively more drunk and fanging to try and sell themselves to us.

And the worse networking events are exactly like that—overstimulating, overwhelming and custom designed for loud people.

That's why so many of us can't stand networking and would rather stick a chopstick in our eye than schmooze with the movers and shakers.

But networking is increasingly NOT that.

Networking for the semi-vert.

Most of us aren't wholly introverted or extroverted.

We're more like a semi-vert. A bit of both. Maybe even bi-vert-ual?

We can switch on the social charms when we need to but then retreat to a safe place to recharge when we need to.

I miss my old BNI networking group on the Gold Coast from about 6 ? years ago for this very reason.

You'd have this one moment where you'd stand up and introduce yourself, your business, what you do and who it's for in 30 seconds and then you'd sit down and get on with your breakfast and hear everyone else do the same thing.

It was great! You'd casually chat at the breakfast buffet with the others in the group before the meeting and grab a quick chat with some others at the end of the meeting.?

It was made for those of us who could be a talker in bursts but then could retreat to our bacon and eggs once that was over.

And because it's almost all the same people every week, apart from a few visitors and newbies, you'd get comfortable with the crew, and you tend to miss it when you can't make it.

We don't have a group like this in Darwin at the moment. I'd like to see this model again up here. With the right people, it could actually be really good.

Networking for just $5.50. Or $11 if you're feeling generous.

All the coaches and 10X gurus hate coffee catch-ups. They see that one hour spent over a coffee to be a waste of time.

“You could have been earning $10,000 in that hour instead of spending $5.50 on a coffee you don't want to talk to a person you don't even like.”

These guys (and they're usually guys) must have had some nasty upbringings.

Sitting down and spending time with one person to listen to what it is that they need and who their ideal client is, is far from a waste of time. And if you could make thousands in that hour, you don't need to be networking.

A few weeks back, I told you about a time when I did some networking with a local “visionary leader” who gladly told me what he wanted and then got up and left before I could tell him what I needed.

Thankfully he bought the coffee on that occasion.

Yet that was just one coffee catch-up among dozens I have every year. And the rest of them are usually fantastic.

Even if I don't find a customer across the table from me - and they almost never aren't - I find someone who knows someone who needs what I do. And I generally know someone who could use their help too.

A network of two is still a network because both of you are connected to tonnes of other people.

A recent experience that reminded me of why I do what I do.

I usually feel like an imposter when I go to a Chamber of Commerce networking event.

They're full of CEOs and General Managers of this and that and the other. They're pulling up in their Mercedes and Land Cruisers, and everyone seems to want to get a piece of their time.

Or, more accurately, their tenders.

That's the attitude I was walking into these events with each time. And it's any wonder that when another would come up I'd find an excuse not to go.

But this week, I went.

And I had people wanting a piece of my time. And I don't have any jobs to hand out or tenders to respond to.?

There were hugs. There were hands shaken. There were really kind comments about this newsletter and my LinkedIn posts. And a few people asking what my plans were once my Entrepreneurship Facilitator contract was over.

It was a really nice evening. I reconnected with people I hadn't seen in years. I maintained relationships with those I see often. And I met some intriguing new people.

Because I got out of my head and in the car and showed up.

The only problem is not that I need to increase my coffee budget for the coming month now!

That's all for this weekend. Just one short read about how networking doesn't have to be what you're assuming it is.

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