Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
blog.ledwards.com
Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
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Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#2Excellent article. I'm certainly not an expert networker myself, but I would agree that being friendly with your business associates is very important to future business. It doesn't mean you necessarily need to hang out with them - even just chatting a little bit about personal stuff once in a while helps to oil the wheels of business. People are human after all, and most people prefer doing business with people they like.
Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#3I've personally found most networking events to be terrible when it comes to making meaningful connections.
I've found it's much more effective to just email someone you're interested in connecting with, introduce yourself, and invite them meet up sometime for a coffee (or beer, depending on the time of day).
If they say yes, it's because they are also interested in what you're doing, and this acts as a quality filter to ensure you're both moderately aligned in your interests and not wasting each other's time. Plus, the one-on-one setting lends itself to more interesting and personal conversations, which tends to have the friend-building effect the original author appeals to.
Networking doesn't come naturally to most people, but being friendly and personable usually does. I find that combining the two removes some of the awkwardness, and makes your efforts that much more effective.
Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#4I've personally found most networking events to be terrible when it comes to making meaningful connections. I've found it's much more effective to just email someone you're interested in connecting with, introduce yourself, and invite them meet up sometime for a coffee (or beer, depending on the time of day). If they say yes, it's because they are also interested in what you're doing, and this acts as a quality filte…
The one-on-one aspect is huge. Our startup is trying to facilitate these kinds of informational coffee meetings:
Treatings: www.treatin.gs
We think there's something special about dating sites as compared to, say, Facebook or LinkedIn: everyone who has signed up has implicitly opted in to the possibility of being contacted by strangers to possibly meet up offline (though they aren't guaranteeing anything). Knowing that people have opted in like this makes most people more comfortable reaching out to strangers.
Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#5[deleted]
Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#6Lee - I love this article. I think everybody should read it just to get the idea that this whole 'networking' thing can get pretty lame at times.
I like the way you explain it - but basically, just, "go make friends" is the advice, right? In case you're interested in the writings of someone with a similar point of view, I wrote a similar post, slightly rantier, a year or so ago: http://danielhough.co.uk/blog/human-business-card-jar/
Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#7I prefer my method of "meetup golf", it's a little different than this one.
In my version of 'meetup golf' you basically go play golf, meet people who enjoy golf while doing so, ask them what they do for work, and 1/2 the time they are in tech or some form of tech (YMMV depending on where you live & play golf). At the end of the round you shake their hand and say "It was nice meeting you. Hey, listen, if you ever want to play golf in the future or need anything at all feel free to contact me" -- hand them your business card, 9 times out of 10 they will connect on linkedin or shoot an email thereafter.
You now have more in common with them than just your profession, you also share a hobby. Also consider there is a 19th hole in golf. This is a far better way to meet, befriend, and build a network that holds some weight.
Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#8I prefer my method of "meetup golf", it's a little different than this one. In my version of 'meetup golf' you basically go play golf, meet people who enjoy golf while doing so, ask them what they do for work, and 1/2 the time they are in tech or some form of tech (YMMV depending on where you live & play golf). At the end of the round you shake their hand and say "It was nice meeting you. Hey, listen, if you ever wan…
This also works really well with cycling group rides.
Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#9I prefer my method of "meetup golf", it's a little different than this one. In my version of 'meetup golf' you basically go play golf, meet people who enjoy golf while doing so, ask them what they do for work, and 1/2 the time they are in tech or some form of tech (YMMV depending on where you live & play golf). At the end of the round you shake their hand and say "It was nice meeting you. Hey, listen, if you ever wan…
Let me know if you're ever in utah and want to play a round.
Re: Meetup Golf - a game I play to keep myself from networking wrong
#10I prefer my method of "meetup golf", it's a little different than this one. In my version of 'meetup golf' you basically go play golf, meet people who enjoy golf while doing so, ask them what they do for work, and 1/2 the time they are in tech or some form of tech (YMMV depending on where you live & play golf). At the end of the round you shake their hand and say "It was nice meeting you. Hey, listen, if you ever wan…
Unfortunately that only works when you live in a place where people do play golf, and where playing golf does not cost a year of your income...