Networking .. Not So Scary After All

The morning after a long holiday weekend, I dragged myself out from under the comfort of my covers to attend an Advanced Networking Workshop at the local chamber of commerce. I was tempted to hit the snooze button and continue to catch some zzz’s but that nagging voice in my brain had enlisted the help of a jackhammer that morning and kept pounding at me to get up. Believe it or not … I’m glad I did.

Maybe I felt comfortable because there were only about 20 people in the room or maybe it was because I was called out twice to practice a tactic before the class. Whatever the case, I loved it!

It got me thinking that maybe I’m not so bad at this after all. Just wishful thinking, of course, but it did raise my confidence a bit. I have to admit, I do enjoy meeting people and I like hearing about what they do. I think it really just comes down to me crafting my message a bit more to help sell myself better.

Here are some tips I took away from the class:

• Get your mood right before entering a networking function. As one of the instructors noted, on the way to an event she listens to upbeat music in her car, singing loudly for all to hear, which puts her in her happy place.
  
  
• If your handshake is rememberable, you are doing it wrong. Don’t be the Shaker, the Klingon, the Gripper or Queen Elizabeth. Get in and get out fast with a firm, confident handshake using your entire hand.
  
  
• Drink some extra water before the event. It wards off dry mouth and the potential for spitting. Drinking too much red wine can have the same drying effects.
  
  
• If there are a bunch of small groups, develop an approach (the slide in, the burst in, the team approach) that works for you and introduce yourself. Remember: Everyone is there to network; they will be welcoming.
  
  
• Don’t work the room while you are working the room. This is extremely rude. If you are speaking to someone, focus on them, not on who you’d like to talk to next.
  
  
• Keep in mind that just because you may have ruled someone out as a potential customer doesn’t mean they don’t know someone who could use your services.

Happy networking!

Forever doomed by nerves and dead plants?

My life feels like one big research assignment. I am currently conducting two experiments (insert mad scientist laugh here just because it’s fun).
The first is related to my freelance writing business and it’s something I’m deathly afraid of – networking. I believe I’m flat-out no good at it. My tragedy is two-fold. In my constant state of nervousness when speaking with a stranger, I tend to keep the conversation one-sided – meaning all about them – that I never give them the opportunity to inquire more about me. Or I just never find the right moment to tell them what I do except to say “I’m a freelance writer,” which usually elicits an “Oh” response and nothing more. And, the final scenario, which entails exchanging business cards with everyone I come in contact with but making no real connection with any of them. In the end, I wind up frustrated, tired and soaked (yuck!).

The problem is, I do have a business and I want and need to be promoting my abilities, but when I hear networking event I immediately shy away. So, I’m working on it, hence experiment number one where I’ll make an effort to get out there and then share my experiences, the good, the bad and the downright embarrassing, so others may learn from my mistakes and (hopefully!) share in my successes.

The second experiment is something I’ve been contemplating for a while now – starting a vegetable garden. You must understand, I have absolutely no green thumb. I’m embarrassed to admit, but I even killed a cactus once obviously from just plain neglect. My husband is a certified and well-educated horticulturist who finds humor in my attempts to keep all-things-green alive. While he’s spouting off long Latin names, I can only stare back in utter confusion, my brain still trying to wrap itself around the difference between an annual and a perennial. So, I’m working on this, too.

Fingers crossed … maybe by year’s end I’ll be a networking hound and a plant extraordinaire! I’m an optimist, can you tell?

Loving the change of scenery

We've been home from Maui for more than a month now, but there's no denying that the island feeling tends to stay with you for awhile. Basically what I'm saying is that I have no trouble reliving those memories now so I can bask in that easy-paced lifestyle once again, even if it's just for a few moments.

One of the things I love most about Maui is its mountainous terrain. Coming from Florida where our house, and the majority of the state for that matter, sits literally just feet above sea level, it's nice to see a change in the landscape. And there really is nothing like seeing that morning sun peek over the top of Mount Haleakala or see the golden colors of the setting sun reflecting off the mountain's face come evening. Talk about breathtaking!

Another favorite of mine is the island's different microclimates. My parents live along the beach where warm days and mild evenings are the norm, and yet just a short, 10-minute drive up-country and the temperature change is unmistakable. In fact, a light jacket is usually called for. This is the part of Maui where you'll find cut-your-own Christmas tree farms, while down by the beaches you are resigned to purchasing a pre-cut tree at Home Depot.

Evidence of the climate change exists in the plant life you'll find as you explore the higher elevations of Maui. While visiting up-country, my mom has stopped in at the Ace Hardware only to discover that some plants she admired would not survive in her beachfront paradise. Disappointed, yes. Enough to relocate up-country, heck no.

What I find entertaining is that on an island encompassing just over 700 square miles, residents and even frequent visitors get attached to one section. Those who live in Kihei hate the busy, touristy feel of the west end, while those who like the bustling west end dislike the more subdued feel of south side.

I suppose I can't say much considering that we have friends who live in North Naples, just 10 miles away from our house, and we always say we could never live up there where it's so busy! And yet, they think we live out in the boonies. I suppose it's all relative.

25 days on Maui

I was under the impression that my honeymoon at two weeks long would probably be the longest vacation I would ever take during my working lifetime. Obviously I was wrong.
25 days in Maui! Crazy, but true.
Of course, this wasn't to be a true vacation. See, my parents live on Maui and have for the past six years. Unfortunately my mom's health has taken a turn for the worse and my husband and I knew it was time to come out and lend a hand. Thankfully, a combination of our presence and medications from the doctors have put mom back on the road to better times, which we hope will last for a long time.
Not to brag or anything, but this is probably my sixth visit to Maui since our honeymoon eight years ago, which entailed a week on Maui and a week on Kauai. When you come to the island so many times, you begin to see things that you normally wouldn't as a one-time tourist.
For instance, in Kihei, where my folks live, it's fun to see the peacocks cross the main road. In fact, you must always be on the lookout for them because they'll walk across whenever the urge strikes and drivers, who are only traveling a modest 30 mph, stop in awe as these cool creatures strut by.
It is worth the drive up-country to visit the Maui School of Therapeutic Massage up in Makawao where students studying massage offer one-hour massages for $30.
On the way over to Kihei and Wailea is the SPCA, a fairly non-descript building where you can visit all the cute dogs and cats that are up for adoption. In fact, on this visit we actually got mom and dad to adopt the cutest cat you've ever seen. It will be good for them to have a cuddly creature around the house to keep them company once we have left.

Airport comfort. An oxymoron?

I'm not sure if I've just been traveling too much this year or if I've just turned into one of those weird people who notices fun and unusual things in airports now.

Then again when you are forced to spend nearly four hours in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, it is hard not to notice all the cool stuff.

For instance, let's say you suddenly have a craving for an iPod Nano. Or maybe you have an iPod but you want better earphones. Or you desperately want a pair of those iTheater glasses. If you are traveling when this desire strikes, don't worry. The Dallas airport has a vending machine for iPod products. How awesome is that?!

All you do is pop in your credit card, punch in your selection, and out pops a new iPod or a new iPod accessory. It's almost better than chocolate except it will put a bigger dent in your wallet.

Thankfully, my iPod is fully equipped so there was no need to splurge. What we did splurge on, though, was first-class seats. No, not first-class seats on the plane. We can't afford those even though flying first class would be on my bucket list, if I had a bucket list. These first-class seats were comfy, leather massage chairs in the terminal that only cost $5 for 15 minutes.

We had three hours to kill so what's 15 minutes and $5? Plus, as you sit there having a massage, you can also put on the headphones and select from a variety of soothing tunes. It's a great place to grab a power nap.

Another great place to stretch out in Dallas is in the terminal chairs themselves at your gate. Believe it or not, they have a selection of chairs around that come with foot rests. What an incredible idea! To my surprise and my luck, not all of these chairs were taken. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why anyone would pass them up. I didn't waste any time snagging two for us while we waited for our group number to be called. My hope is that maybe more airports will add this luxury.

As you can see, I get excited by the little things in life. A little extra bit of comfort goes a long way in my book.