Don't Miss Out On Opportunities
Today I went to a baby shower, not something I’m really good at, but I went anyway. I was going to see people I hadn’t seen in 4.5 years. I was introduced into this circle through my Ex and I was a bit nervous about how I’d be received, being that I was no longer “one of them”.
While I’m normally a confident and approachable business woman, the thought of seeing this group made my stomach do flip flops and it put my nerves on edge, while all sorts of things were running through my head. I even made my daughter come with me so I wouldn’t get to the parking lot and back out at the last minute.
Speaking to groups of 500 people or more doesn’t faze me but the small group of 15 known to me, had me a bit tongue tied. My conversation was clumsy and awkward. This is something I’m not accustomed to!
So how did it turn out? WONDERFUL! They were just as I remembered them, warm, friendly, kind and welcoming. What was I afraid of all these years? On the way home I thought of all the good times I’d missed over these years because I was too afraid to put myself back out there.
It made me think of others who might be afraid to put themselves “out there” when it comes to business. It’s not only personal situations that can be nerve racking – it’s business too! Yet, how do we build or grow business if we don’t get out there? For me, walking into a room full of strangers isn’t a problem and for others it’s just as scary as my initial walk into that baby shower.
Have you ever felt nervous going into a networking event: stomach doing flip flops, hands sweaty, afraid you’ll say the wrong thing OR not know what to say at all? Who do I approach? What if they don’t want to talk to me? My advice to you is to a) get over it or b) get some help.
I do have a networking & workshop event coming up at the end of November that might be helpful (Become Engaging) BUT there are many to choose from. Find someone to give you ideas/suggestions on how to start conversations, who to approach and maybe ideas for developing a game plan going into a networking event, so you feel more confident about being there. At the very least, take someone with you (like I did my daughter) to help you over those first few nervous moments.
If you can’t attend the workshop end of the month in Toronto, look for the tele-class covering the same topic – just look for something/someone to help you.
Don’t put your business networking on hold until you are “ready”. Don’t miss opportunities because you fear what others might think. My shower experience taught me that there is no excuse for missing out. Put yourself out there for business, get a networking buddy and take every opportunity to get visible. You’ll be glad you did!
Think of what you might miss if you don’t attend the next big business networking event.
