I went to a huge conference last week and felt totally lost in the crowd. In my experience, walking up to strangers is hard, so I tried just asking people about their badges. That led to some really good talks about their projects. Your mileage may vary, but for me, it broke the ice without feeling forced. Maybe it could work for you too.
I used to feel pressure to meet everyone at big events. Focusing on just a few people during breaks brought me my first major client. In my experience, depth beats breadth every time.
Was at this new pop-up entrepreneur meet in the park. A squirrel grabbed my stack of cards and ran up a tree. I had to give my elevator speech while pointing at the branches.
Shared a booth with a woodworker last season. Our combined display brought in twice the traffic.
How long should I wait before moving on to other prospects?
I was at a tech startup mixer last week, all ready to make new contacts. I had a bunch of business cards in my hand and my messenger bag on my shoulder. In my rush to say hi to someone across the room, I didn't see my own bag strap on the floor. I tripped hard, and my cards went flying like confetti. Everyone stopped talking and looked at me. I was so embarrassed, but then a guy came over to help pick them up. We ended up chatting about his app idea while gathering cards. Now I always check my feet before moving at events.
I stopped by a grocery store demo for homemade soups last week. The chef running it was talking about local farm supplies. We hit it off and swapped stories about small food businesses. I mentioned my plan for a seasonal recipe box service. He liked the idea and offered to help with sourcing fresh produce. Now we're testing a pilot together this fall. Do you often find networking happens in simple food spots like this?
Hi everyone. I'm launching a new e-commerce venture based out of Fort Lauderdale and need an attorney to review vendor contracts and operating agreements. Any recommendations for someone reliable in the area?