To some, the word “networking” conjures up ideas about stale
meetings, a dry chicken entrée, or a room full of strangers where
you feel completely out of place. Palms sweating and a head filled
with negative thoughts, you enter the meeting thinking of ways to
make a quick exit and get on with your “real” work.

I know these feelings because I used to be this person I described
above! This may shock some of you who know me through business, but
I’m really an introvert at heart. As a former amateur figure skater
and theatre performance minor and with hundreds of performances
under my belt, I am quite accustomed to being in front of groups of
hundreds and thousands. However, entering a conference room filled
with people I don’t know and stack of my business cards in my purse
used to really get my knees knocking! But I kept doing it because
somehow I knew it would be helpful to my business. What I didn’t
realize is how much it would also help me personally. I don’t recall
exactly when the shift happened for me, but I slowly uncovered a few
things that made formal networking meetings much easier and even
quite enjoyable for me. Here are few of my discoveries: (more…)