Are you an introvert who feels shivers down the spine when you need to go to an event? Do you absolutely dread the idea of small talk with people you just met?
If you are a business owner, you have most likely encountered or been in a very awkward conversation. You have been running around in bushes, not getting straight to your point, and you will most likely not close a sale after the conversation. You don’t know how to politely say goodbye and move on with another person.
You are not alone if you feel these nerves. In fact, everyone goes through them! There are just those who are able to manage their nerves better. No one notices the fear and the restlessness going through their minds. They are able to keep calm, with grace and composure, even in the midst of insurmountable pressure. Sometimes, they’re even the most introverted people but no one notices or identifies them to be one because they are just so damn good at networking.
Well, if you are just starting out in business and thinking that you can do it all alone, let us crush your spirit and tell you the truth: you can’t. In one point of your business journey, you would have to collaborate, work, and talk to other people whether you like it or not. You should early on already learn the skill of starting, engaging, and ending conversations in the most professional way possible.
First off, you have to know that everyone is as nervous as you are. They might be more senior than you but they also went through what you’re going through right now. Relax, get out of your head, read the room, and trust the pitch or your business that you’re going to present on the table. Second, you might not even talk that much! People love talking about themselves so let them be. Ask questions that will be helpful to you but just offer a listening ear and you can easily win the favor of this person. Third, don’t force yourself to close a deal! No one likes being sold to. If you want to develop rapport with someone, you don’t want to throw them off by offering a business and shoving it to their faces. You want to start with building trust and friendship first. Show them that you are genuinely interested about their business too and that you are curious about their industry. Let them do the talking and focus on the listening which will also help you come out from the networking event with new learnings to apply to your life. Fourth is to get out of the conversation in the most professional way possible. Excuse yourself that you have to go the restroom or you may introduce them to someone you know in the group that may be interested with their line of work or business. And last advice of course is to have fun! For networking to be successful, you have to keep on coming to these networking events so that means you should enjoy going to them in the first place. Make this your only goal for the night and everything else will be much easier and would come off more naturally to you.
If you want some practice or maybe you want to host your own networking events yourself, why not try hosting people in your own backyard first? You can have a simple dinner, a backyard brunch, a fitness sweat session, an arts workshop, a dance class, or whatever floats your boat in your house. If you think there’s no space, think again! You can always make use of the garage for group events if you don’t have space in your main house. Just make sure that it’s decluttered and the things that you have stored in it are organized and tidied up in wall shelves and overhead storage racks. When everything is up there, the garage can serve its primary function to store your car and still have space for your other hobbies and the events that you plan to hold there.
Here are some products that you may choose from:
GR SERIES CLASSIC OVERHEAD GARAGE STORAGE RACK
This product offers ample vertical support and longer ceiling brackets. It will prevent the shelf from falling from the ceiling because it is secured on the wall. Its weight capacity is 400 to 600 pounds and the height can be adjusted from 22 to 40 inches. It is made of cold-roll steel that is guaranteed to be of high quality after undergoing rigid tests. This is also a waterproof product that could avoid getting your products damaged from water. It could store seasonal items such as athletic gear you only use for winter or for summer. This comes with an integrated grid design that makes it stand out from others available in the market. This comes in black and white and you may choose from different storage spaces: 4’ x 8’, 4’ x 6’, 3’ x 8’, 3’ x 6’, and 2’ x 8’.
If one of your worries is installation, don’t worry because this can be easily installed by following the step-by-step manual and installation template that comes with the product.
WR SERIES CLASSIC 2-PACK WALL SHELVING
For items that you need to be accessible on a regular basis, it’s best to store them in a wall shelf where it can easily be reached by hand. This wall-mounted storage solution from FlexiMounts comes with all the necessary hardware which makes it easier to install in a concrete wall or wall studs. It’s 2x6 in size and could carry 400 pounds in total. It’s made up of top of the line, powder-coated steel that has undergone quality tests. Its buckle design comes with velcros, a feature that prevents it from falling. Homeowners may play around with installment because of the product’s flexible layout with various combinations and different stud spacing. This unit comes in either black or white. It is a certified classic FlexiMounts’ product.
We can’t wait for you to step out of your comfort zone and meet people to grow your business!
