I went to my first networking meeting last night and was sooooo excited. I practiced my 60 elevator speech all day and even the 45 minutes in the car on the way there. I was completely confident that I would do great! Well, once the microphone got to me, I clamed up! I hate a room full of eyes on me and I got really nervous. I stumbled through the whole thing. The rest of the night it made me more determined to meet every single business owner and talk to them one on one. I did just that I got a few people who are really interested! If I didnt make it to the next business owner to talk to, they were coming up to me asking for my card! Im super excited and getting ready to send my follow up emails! I just need to work on my public speaking and Ill be ready to shine!

Anyone else have horror stories from their first networking event?

Congrats!! I totally had a similar experience. You practice and practice and then you get tongue tied. Luckily I was able to laugh at myself and make light of the situation and everyone laughed with me.

Which networking event did you go to. I'm in Dallas too

Shandon

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Shandon Collins, Senior Research Consultant & Owner
The Research Ace || http://www.theresearchace.com

I've been networking for many years. Belong to a couple of referral groups, have done presentations to the groups, and the whole bit - and I still sometimes get tongue tied. I get in a hurry, forget to prepare my 30 second for THAT particular meeting, forget the story I was going to tell and who's going to make a good referral for me that week - and just completely blow it. About a month ago I forgot my company name and stumbled all over it. LOL...Yikes!!!

It happens. I've seen people who I consider the kings & queens of networking blow it. The key is just what Shandon mentions....laugh it off. Laugh at yourself and others will laugh along with you vs. at you.

It also works that they see you are human and obviously you handled it and recovered it beautifully or you wouldn't have had people asking you for your card and showing interest! Just don't let it discourage you at all if they showed interest and now don't call. Just remember the 7 times rule. You made contact...now take it home by doing all the other marketing stuff you need to do.

Best of everything!!!

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Pam Blackman - On My Wings International
Integrated Virtual Business Management Solutions | Mentoring | Coaching

At least you gave it a try. To more you do it, the more comfortable you will become. A lot of people get nervous speaking in public, I know I do!

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Myrlene Hoyte
www.vpadmins.com

Shandon- It was at the Mary Kay Studio in Trophy Club. My friend is a consultant so she told me about the networking event they were hosting.

Your stories make me feel better about stumbling! I just have to remember to laugh it off next time it happens to me.

Well congratulations for the effort and for still making the most of the night even after you felt you did not do too well. It can be hard to get up and speak in front of people especially for VA's when we are used to working alone at our computers all day. Great job for the effort, keep up the good work and don't forget to follow up, its key to good networking :-)

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Kim Beckers
Certified Online Business Manager

Congratulations! You had the boldness to concur fear and do it! Sounds like to me you did way better than you thought with all of those contacts. Great networking

It's ok. I hate the eyes too but we need to do it. Just keep at it and the fear will go away.

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Jacqueline D. Callender
Global Horizons VA Services

I have been in the same networking group for five years and just last week when I was giving my 30 second elevator speech everyone had the "I don't care" look on their face and of course I forgot half of what I was saying. So even with people you know well you can lose it sometimes.

Last week I heard a speaker that said to focus on one area of your business when you give your elevator speech I was wondering if that is what most of you do or do you try to include as much of what you do as you can?

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Renae McGregor Virtual Assistant
http://www.renaemcgregor.com

Congrats, you got through it, and in the end it all worked out because it made you more determined to speak to every one individually.

The same thing happens to me and stories like this reminds me that i'm not alone and to keep going. Congrats again!!

Shonelle