A few months ago, I attended my first in-person business event since the pandemic began.
It was a 10-person mastermind in New York City that met six hours a day for three days.
There was a kick-off dinner the night before it started.
I organized networking dinners the other two nights.
I was invited to drinks before one of those dinners and went out for coffee after the other dinner.
I also walked and walked and walked around the city.
On Sunday, a car came to take me home to the Philly suburbs.
I crawled into the backseat and promptly fell asleep.
I was e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d.
I’m an outgoing extrovert who usually thrives on a schedule like this.
I mean, if I’m going to make an effort to leave my home, I want to take advantage of all the opportunities to meet and reconnect with awesome people.
But wow, I am out of practice.
And if I’m feeling out of practice, I wonder how people with less networking savvy are feeling?
I mean, I spent over a decade prior to the pandemic teaching people how to network AT conferences through my signature talk, Art of the Schmooze.
I have been hosting, On the Schmooze, a podcast about networking and leadership since 2016.
I published a book, “Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences” in 2017.
In 2019, I did a TEDx talk, “Hate networking? Stop bageling and be the croissant!”
I’m finally able to put this experience into practice again as some of my virtual event clients have asked me to support the first in-person annual conferences they’ve held in over two years.
I’m meeting with speakers to help them design their breakout sessions with an eye towards the full participant experience throughout the event.
There are so many micro-adjustments that can make a real difference in how easily participants, especially first-timers, comfortably navigate the event.
Then there are the big efforts to create networking opportunities – for one client I’m their Connections Concierge and I’m organizing activities during breaks and meals at the Connections Lounge.
Your Challenge For This Week
Are you hosting an in-person event this year? We should chat.
Your participants are feeling out of practice (and maybe angsty?) about networking at events and meeting people is still a top driver for why they’re leaving the comfort of their home.
I can help your speakers design engaging breakout sessions that create opportunities for participants to meet each other before, during, and after – so they are less likely to go back into the chaotic hallway alone.
I keynote, lead breakout sessions, run first-timer orientations, host solo receptions for people traveling alone, and basically do everything I can to help you meet the promise of your event:
Content AND connection.
Are you attending your first in-person event in a long time?
I recently updated a resource I haven’t shared in ages, “Tips for Conference Connections” – download it at www.robbiesamuels.com/tips.
And I mentioned several other resources above that would also be a great way to brush up on your in-person networking skills before your next event:
www.CroissantsvsBagels.com – you can download the bonus content for my first book before being sent to Amazon to buy it and if you buy the paperback you’ll receive the audiobook too.
www.robbiesamuels.com/TEDx – watch this 9.5 minute talk to learn how to physically navigate events to increase your chances of having great conversations.
www.OntheSchmooze.com – I’ve interviewed over 250 talented professionals over the last 5.5 years and they’ve each shared how they built and sustained their professional network.
I hope these resources help you make the most of your next in-person event.
Let me know how it goes!
Business Growth Strategist & Business Coach
As a relationship-based business growth strategist, I work directly with a limited number of self-employed professionals, aka solopreneurs.
WHO YOU ARE:
You want to have a greater impact and increased income. The problem is that there are so many options for how to build your business that you can feel stuck, overwhelmed, and like you’re running out of time.
The reason options are overwhelming is that you’re looking at them as a series of disconnected steps, when to make the most of your time, you need a strategy that connects only the most important and highest impact ones.
You know that if you try to do everything, you’ll accomplish nothing. This means, to achieve your goal, you have to invest in a strategy to put time on your side.
What’s Included:
As a relationship-based business growth strategist, I will work with you to design a year-long plan that consists of three 12-week sprints, each followed by 4 weeks of reflection/assessment, rejuvenation/vacation, and strategic planning. This will allow you to sequence your goals, create momentum, and leverage your limited time.
We can build your plan through a half-day strategy session, a coaching engagement, or a mastermind program.
These are not right for everyone; they’re personalized offerings and are priced accordingly.
What might you work on?
In my coaching work with entrepreneurs and solopreneurs, we focus on the areas where you’d like to grow, which may include:
- Creating a strong sales conversation framework
- Building your referral network
- Lead generation through a relationships
- Growing your visibility in your industry
- Increasing your ability to attract the right kind of clients
- Identifying and launching a minimally viable offer
- Breaking through whatever bottleneck is holding you back from getting the results you want and deserve
- Becoming a published author and marketing your book successfully
- Improving your virtual presentation skills
Learn more about the different ways we can work together – deep dive 3-hour session, private 1:1 coaching, and masterminds. I’m excited to support you in reaching or exceeding your goals.
Stay Connected:
- Connect with me on LinkedIn to see the content I share.
- New to my website? Start here
- Listen to my On the Schmooze podcast – weekly since July 2016.
