If you’re going to be in business: be in business

Crocstar Media picked its feet up and took itself along to a networking event last night.

Glass of bubbly on arrival – check. Organiser introducing themself – absent. Talk at the start – absent. Focus to the evening – absent.

So far, so disappointing. Things didn’t improve.

I spoke to one woman who, after a minute or two, seemed to think I was her friend. Within five minutes I knew how much money she’d earned in the past year, how much she had in her business account and what her friends thought of her press release writing skills.

My point, dear reader, is that if you’re going to be in business – act like a professional. Don’t tell me what you earn, don’t waffle on and for god’s sake – do tell me what you do!

Networking should be a routine procedure – open up the company, quick glance round to see if there’s anything in common, then stitch it back up with a business card if need be.

I suppose you have to try these things to see if they work for you and your company. For now, networking events and Crocstar are not friends. It’s going to take more than the promise of a glass of fizz and a goody bag to tempt me out again any time soon. Unless it’s a really big glass.

This post was originally published by Christine on Wed, 07/09/2008