Uncomfortable Networking

Uncomfortable Networking When I started my job search I knew I wouldnt have to waste time networking. I was too busy looking for a job to spend time networking.   I didnt want to take hours each week in the car, spending money to going to events, and schmoozing with people who really had nothing to offer me. One day I broke down and thought Id give it a try, but I did it on my own terms.   I really was uncomfortable putting myself out there in front of people, not sure how to network.   And of course, since it was on my own terms, I didnt get much value out of it (and I guarantee I didnt give any value to anyone). My terms included: going to the meeting late heaven forbid I got there early enough to have to talk to people, leaving the meeting as soon as the speaker was done again, no need to talk to people! Reading Never Eat Alone and Thom Singers Some Assembly Required helped change my thoughts about networking I got excited about those meetings, and changed the way I thought about the attendees.   I started going earlier and stayed until almost everyone was gone.   I started asking for lunches from individuals, and following up in email and on the phone. Everything changed.   Even, and especially, the results. At lunch a few days ago I was talking with a local entrepreneur and I had a thought sometimes you have to be uncomfortable in your networking. If you look at me now, especially if you dont want to network, you might think that Im a networking fool a crazy networker who does nothing else, and thoroughly enjoys networking. The truth is, many times I am uncomfortable. I am not saying we have to be in ethically or morally uncomfortable situations, but many times we are sitting in the network meeting, or in the parking lot before the meeting, or right by our phone before we make *that* call, and we are uncomfortable.   Queasy.   Scared. Im going to guess that everyone, even Mr. Networker himself Thom Singer, who has written multiple books on networking, gets uncomfortable sometimes. But let me encourage you to go through with it dont let the discomfort be a show-stopper for you. Go into that meeting, open your mouth, meet people, and grow your network!   Uncomfortable is OKAY. Uncomfortable Networking When I started my job search I knew I wouldnt have to waste time networking. I was too busy looking for a job to spend time networking.   I didnt want to take hours each week in the car, spending money to going to events, and schmoozing with people who really had nothing to offer me. One day I broke down and thought Id give it a try, but I did it on my own terms.   I really was uncomfortable putting myself out there in front of people, not sure how to network.   And of course, since it was on my own terms, I didnt get much value out of it (and I guarantee I didnt give any value to anyone). My terms included: going to the meeting late heaven forbid I got there early enough to have to talk to people, leaving the meeting as soon as the speaker was done again, no need to talk to people! Reading Never Eat Alone and Thom Singers Some Assembly Required helped change my thoughts about networking I got excited about those meetings, and changed the way I thought about the attendees.   I started going earlier and stayed until almost everyone was gone.   I started asking for lunches from individuals, and following up in email and on the phone. Everything changed.   Even, and especially, the results. At lunch a few days ago I was talking with a local entrepreneur and I had a thought sometimes you have to be uncomfortable in your networking. If you look at me now, especially if you dont want to network, you might think that Im a networking fool a crazy networker who does nothing else, and thoroughly enjoys networking. The truth is, many times I am uncomfortable. I am not saying we have to be in ethically or morally uncomfortable situations, but many times we are sitting in the network meeting, or in the parking lot before the meeting, or right by our phone before we make *that* call, and we are uncomfortable.   Queasy.   Scared. Im going to guess that everyone, even Mr. Networker himself Thom Singer, who has written multiple books on networking, gets uncomfortable sometimes. But let me encourage you to go through with it dont let the discomfort be a show-stopper for you. Go into that meeting, open your mouth, meet people, and grow your network!   Uncomfortable is OKAY. Uncomfortable Networking When I started my job search I knew I wouldnt have to waste time networking. I was too busy looking for a job to spend time networking.   I didnt want to take hours each week in the car, spending money to going to events, and schmoozing with people who really had nothing to offer me. One day I broke down and thought Id give it a try, but I did it on my own terms.   I really was uncomfortable putting myself out there in front of people, not sure how to network.   And of course, since it was on my own terms, I didnt get much value out of it (and I guarantee I didnt give any value to anyone). My terms included: going to the meeting late heaven forbid I got there early enough to have to talk to people, leaving the meeting as soon as the speaker was done again, no need to talk to people! Reading Never Eat Alone and Thom Singers Some Assembly Required helped change my thoughts about networking I got excited about those meetings, and changed the way I thought about the attendees.   I started going earlier and stayed until almost everyone was gone.   I started asking for lunches from individuals, and following up in email and on the phone. Everything changed.   Even, and especially, the results. At lunch a few days ago I was talking with a local entrepreneur and I had a thought sometimes you have to be uncomfortable in your networking. If you look at me now, especially if you dont want to network, you might think that Im a networking fool a crazy networker who does nothing else, and thoroughly enjoys networking. The truth is, many times I am uncomfortable. I am not saying we have to be in ethically or morally uncomfortable situations, but many times we are sitting in the network meeting, or in the parking lot before the meeting, or right by our phone before we make *that* call, and we are uncomfortable.   Queasy.   Scared. Im going to guess that everyone, even Mr. Networker himself Thom Singer, who has written multiple books on networking, gets uncomfortable sometimes. But let me encourage you to go through with it dont let the discomfort be a show-stopper for you. Go into that meeting, open your mouth, meet people, and grow your network!   Uncomfortable is OKAY.