You never know how saying ‘Hello’ to a stranger can change the world for them. I’m gonna @mention and hashtag the heck out of this story about networking at conference. 😅
I recently received an invite to the @businessfestival from @zoner.fi. These events are incredibly important for me. I love the opportunity to meet new people, network, and perhaps find others who might need support with their IT challenges.
The festival was by all counts amazing — except for the noise level and crowds. It was the exact opposite of sitting calmly by the sea, and I could feel my anxiety levels rising by the minute.
In marketing, like fishing, there is the thought that we should be selective about where and how we network. Personally, for networking I prefer calmer environments, like a coffee shop, where I feel more at ease introducing myself to new people. Those settings suit my persona much better. The chaotic atmosphere at the festival drained me quickly. You can listen to a sound clip below.
There’s no shame in recognizing when you’ve put yourself in a draining situation, then making a plan to exit it. It’s important to work to your strengths. Entrepreneurs, and especially solo entrepreneurs like myself, have limited time and energy to spend on marketing. So we should spend it wisely.
Using a fishing metaphor: ask yourself what kind of fish you want to catch. Where might that fish be? How will you go fishing? Will you use a net? A rod and hook? I don’t have the time or energy for a net full of fish. I prefer to fish calmly and simply, with a rod and line.
At the festival, I could have stood on a chair and yelled, “Who has a computer?” and probably had 2,000 people raise their hands. But the chances of finding the right customers for me among them would have been slim. So, I went to a quieter area to decompress and think about whether it was time to leave or not.
I knew my People were in there somewhere, but finding them felt impossible because the noise and sheer numbers of people. The decision was more or less made to leave, when one of The People, Nina from Flip Fantasia (one the event organisers) collected some bottles from near me.
“Hello. How’s it going?”
With a simple “Hello”, a domino rally was started which affected a good number of previously unconnected people.
From that one greeting, we had a lively, inspiring conversation about event organization, networking, entrepreneurship, and everything in between. It flipped my day. I was back in my usual personable and slightly hyperactive mood. With renewed energy I went to network my ass off. I felt like a networking ninja. Now feeling more confident, I began introducing myself to new people, and realising, “Hey! You need to meet so-and-so from LinkedIn, or from that stand over there!”. I even ended up being interviewed by Flip Fantasia about “What does success mean to you?”
My takeaway from all this:
Trust the process. Actually, I would prefer to say, “Trust God”. A process can be fallible. God isn’t. He is absolutely looking out for me. 😉
Be patient.
Be yourself.
Say “Hello” to the stranger. You never know what domino rally is about to start with the smallest of nudges.
Let’s say “hello” over a coffee. 🙂
The noise:
With thanks to:
Zoner.fi for the ticket
Business Festival for the experience*
Nina Palosaari (@ninerthewiener) for the hello.
Flip Fantasia for the interview
