Sizzling Summer Networking
on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Every busy professional can make summer connections that lead their best year yet! No doubt you are thinking, “Summer, finally!” now that the warmer weather is arriving, school is out, and you are finishing up the first half of the year. But don’t let your strategies go on vacation over the summer months when you shift gears in your business.
Summer is an excellent time for professional development, re-visiting relationships with key strategic partners, and even connecting with customers. Here are a couple of my observations over my years in business development.
1. Summer is a sweet time to connect socially with groups of people and reconnect.
2. Summer is a sweet time to learn, read, and play with fresh ideas.
3. Summer is a great time to visit new networking groups. The core group consistently attends all year long. You can meet the movers and shakers when there is less busy-ness.
Quick ideas to activate your summer networking:
- Consider creating a focused mastermind group of likeminded professionals to work on a focused goal over the summer.
- Learn something new. Take a webinar, join a business book club, ask your network what they are reading and request a summary.
- Collaborate with one of your clients or partners to put on a social fun event for your networks and/or your customers.
- Assemble a focus group of customers or potential customers to test a new idea, marketing strategy, or message.
I want to share an example. The SuperCharged Networking event we held partnered with Dessert Noir was fun (socially and professionally) and added value to the individuals and the community by raising $450 in 90 minutes for the local food bank. Great connections were made and fun was had by all.
Cool off, have fun, and make your summer connections work for you!
Happy summer networking!
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Do you have a summer networking idea? Add your comments below! |
To your success!
Kathie Nelson
http://www.KathieNelson.com