After a Two-Networking-Event Day

Networking is, for O2S2, a very important aspect of marketing. Virtual Assistance is a highly personal business, and face-to-face chemistry is key even for a virtual working relationship.

For me, however, networking is quite difficult. I'm a deeply shy person. Over the years, I have developed a certain skill level in meeting new people, but I still haven't managed to develop any level of comfort.

Another challenge is the fact that so many of these networking events are scheduled very early in the day so business people can participate without taking too large a chunk out of their business hours. I'm not very good at mornings. Once I'm up and have some coffee in me, I'm mostly functional, but the humour has some cobwebby stuff it needs to shake off and, truth be told, I'm probably not looking all that spiffy.

Today was a two network event day. The first was a Bitron Rewards early breakfast meeting at the Sylvia Hotel. The second was a BNI lunch meeting at The Rugby Club. Two great organizations, two great venues.

That infernal alarm went off at 6:00 but I didn't even hear it until 6:17, and I was supposed to be on the road by 6:45, for a 7:00 meeting. (Or that's what I thought.) Okay - up, into the shower, into some clothes, slap on some makeup, and fly out the door. The clothes matched. The shoes matched. The purse didn't. The makeup was mostly in the right places. I got a great parking spot.

As it turns out, I was the first to arrive and so I sat all by myself for 20 minutes enjoying daybreak over English Bay. 20 minutes. That would have given me time to finish that dream, whatever it was... On the other hand, English Bay was navy blue at 7:05 this morning. Navy Blue. My very favorite colour.

And I met several new, very interesting people, and reconnected with several old contacts, and resurrected an opportunity that's been hanging out there for a few months now. Maybe one day it'll actually blossom into a healthy sized contract.

Next was the lunch meeting. Got there on time, found a bunch of people I'd already met, and a bunch of others who have something or other that I may need. It was nice to see some who were already O2S2 customers and another who is planning to become an O2S2 customer, and a handful of others who really needed to know about O2S2. And wasn't it nice when some of my current customers recommended me to some of the prospects, right there and then. Cool. I love this networking stuff. And besides, lunch was great.

But now I'm too pooped to pop.

Tomorrow is going to be a quiet morning in my home office. No makeup. My outfit probably won't match, and shoes won't get anywhere near my feet. I'll be on the phone, working on building my business, building my relationships with all these new people, and getting their work done.

Yee haw... yawn.