Showing Up. And Showing Out.

Half of the battle in the life is actually showing up. Regardless of it's a networking event, a job interview, a business, or some other thing that requires your time and energy. Nothing will come from it if you don't even go.

I remember going to my first networking event in college. Sweaty palms, awkward stares, and I was ready to go! LOL. Several years later, networking events still take up so much of my life. Now I spend much time attending summits, conferences, meetings, and happy hours. There are times when I am excited and times when I'm simply not feeling up to it. Whatever the reason may be, showing up is hard. There's a lot of mental fatigue that happens with networking or some like to call it "peopling". If you feel drained after being around people you are not alone.

For someone like me who is certainly an introvert. It is important not only for me to show up, but show up full and in a way that allows me to be present. I went to many events in college that if you asked me now I wouldn't even remember the name of the event or any of the people I met while I was there. So many of my thoughts at these events were "when should I leave?" "Should I start a conversation with them?" "Did I bring business cards?" "Shoot. They are already talking to someone."

Less is More

Don't stress yourself out or overthink about ways to start a conversation. Something as simple as asking someone how they're doing or what company they're with can be a great "in".

At times attending events still makes me feel anxious. I now know the importance of taking time prior to the event to look up what the event is about, who may be there (if there is a RSVP list), who I would like to connect with and who I can learn from.

I learned to take some of the pressure off of myself and how I pitch myself or my business. I started asking more questions about the person I am speaking with, rather than being nervous about how I may answer different questions.

"How's your Monday going?" There was one networking event that I attended (recently actually) and a guy came up to me and said "How's your Monday going?" It low key caught me off guard because no one has started a conversation with me this way at one of these events. It was so simple, but made me think, and allowed us to then engage in a conversation. Was it really all that simple all along?

It happened, even if it's not on social media.

We live in a world where everything has to be posted or become content. For the professional world, many like to share what events they attended on LinkedIn. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! I post different events on my social platforms. However, don't feel pressured to be a content creator. If that isn't your thing, you simply don't have to post every time you attend an event. Be present, make connections, and be yourself. Although it may be hard for some to believe, I don't post most of the events attend.

Happy Networking | Simple Tips 1. Focus on what you can learn from someone else rather than feeling pressure to prove yourself.

2. Embrace what you know rather than what you don't know. Whatever knowledge you may have is valuable and everyone is there to learn something new!

3. Go with some goals in mind. How many people do you want to connect with? What's something new you want to learn?

4. LISTEN! As I mentioned earlier it is important to ask questions. Don't do so much talking that you don't allow anyone else to get a word in. No one likes a know-it-all. There. I said it.

There are so many ways to show up as your best self! I trust that you will put in the work and make it happen one way or another. Let me know in the comments how your networking event went🖤

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