5 Ways to Make Networking Less Scary (boo!)

1. 👻 Don’t Let the Ghosts of Relationships Past Haunt Your Present 

This is the scariest, deepest issue of all. 

We’ve all had some horror-inducing networking (and life) experiences. We’ve all felt rejection, failure, criticism, judgment, doubt, and insecurity. We all have demons. 

We have to Let That Sh*t Go. We have to face our demons, process the pain and doubt, and push through our fears ... in order to move forward.

That negative baggage is too damn heavy to schlep into every event, every meeting, and every conversation. Step into your next encounter with an open mind. Give yourself and other people the benefit of the doubt, and find something positive in every interaction. 

And if it’s a horrible interaction, then it’s a fantastic learning experience.

2. 😈 Don't Set and Expect Unnatural Goals

You wouldn’t expect to receive an entire year’s worth of candy on one Halloween night, would you?

You wouldn’t expect to go trick or treating and hit 500 houses in one night, would you?

Don’t expect to meet 100 people at one event, let alone connect deeply with each one.

Don’t expect to land 5 clients, or even 1, in just one night.

Relationships, and baking, require time and patience.

3. 🎃 "Trick or Treat?" Depends on your Taste

Whether savory, sweet, citrus, or spicy, we each have our own favorite flavors.

We also know which foods, people, and situations can give us heartburn. 

You won’t love every piece of candy you collect.

You won’t like every person you meet, and not every person you meet will like you.

That’s human and normal. That’s why chemistry matters in business, dating, and life.

Different tastes for different palates, diverse flavors for diverse people.

Focus on your favorites, and don’t let a few bad bites ruin Halloween, or networking, or dessert for you forever.

4. 🧛 Learn to Repel the Vampires

If someone is sucking up your time, attention, and energy, give them some garlic and walk away.

And by garlic, I mean a polite yet firm statement. Like one of these: 

🧄“I don’t want to monopolize your time. Enjoy the conference.”

🧄“It’s been interesting talking to you, good luck with your ____ [whatever they’ve been droning on about].

🧄“Sorry to interrupt, but I have to go, there’s someone I need to find here.”  It’s not a lie, you do need to meet someone less draining, and more useful to you.

5. ⏰ Do the Time Warp: Set Realistic Short Term & Long Term Follow-Up Goals

You wouldn’t force yourself to eat all your candy in one bite, in one night, would you? 

Don’t pressure yourself to follow up with every single person you meet immediately.

We all have busy lives, you won’t be punished for being human. 

Follow up one at a time, in order of priority, to suit your goals.

🎃 Bonus Treats 🎃

To help you transform scary networking situations into sweet success.

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