Within the first hour I felt completely out of place and overwhelmed. Many attendees and speakers were Harvard Business School graduates, with lucrative salaries and businesses.
(I am a graduate of City University of New York, Queens College with a 3.2 GPA. I don’t make a seven-figure or even a six-figure salary, and my business is not profitable at this point.) I wanted to get up and leave. But I did not. I was there to do business and so I did, and this is what I learned.
1.) There is nothing to fear. Everyone at the event has the same objective: Just like you, they want to meet as many people as possible, talk about their business, and get leads.
2.) Don’t eat or drink much. You want your hands to be free and clean. It’s important for shaking hands or exchanging business cards.
3.) Wear your name tag on the left side, above your heart. OK, I knew this, but there were so many people that wore it on the wrong side or on the bottom of their shirts by their hips. Don’t they teach you this at Harvard Business School?
4.) Even if you do not have a business, get business cards so you could give people your contact info. You can get free business cards online at Vista Print. Just print them up with your name, title (e.g. budding entrepreneur looking for the right business), and you contact info.
5.) Everyone is approachable. Everyone is there to do business, share their expertise, and give out their business cards. So go ahead and talk to the most affluent and successful attendees/speakers.
6.) Don’t just talk about yourself. Get to know people, show interest in what they do, praise them.
7.) Don’t chat on your cell phone. So many times I was exhausted talking to strangers, I just wanted to chat with someone I knew and relax. But no, I was there to network and that’s what I got to do. Dedicate every minute to meeting people. OK, you can have a bathroom break. While in the bathroom, network.
It seems glamorous to meet and chat with people but it is extremely exhausting. You are tense and need to listen carefully to ask follow up questions. Networking events are emotional, inspiring and energizing. At one point I felt like crying out of joy. It was an incredible feeling to see so many powerful women.
After it’s over, you feel exhausted, but inspired, joyous and energized. It truly is an experience.
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