How many times have you straightened your tie or put on that little, black dress when you'd rather throw on some sweats and veg in front of the tube? But you did it. You took a deep breath and left another lazy evening in the almighty name of Networking. Everywhere you go, anything you do, you comfort yourself by saying, "It's great networking." You could end up in prison and still make good use of the time.
But you know what? You're lucky. Really. You've killed entire Saturdays shopping for little cocktail wieners and frosting cupcakes just so you can eat most of them by yourself at a slow open house. Thank goodness for veggie trays or you'd be on your way to an early grave. Yet there's a side to networking that has everybody else in every other field wishing they were you. Everyone yearns to get out of the house, or flee the office, and actually be part of the community . But they're too busy at work. You do it everyday, and it's part of your job.
Now I'm going to use a phrase that will make you a bit nauseous. You'll hear it a lot in this fevered political season. Here we go..."Now more than ever." yep. Now more than ever you need to market yourself, and even more importantly, now more than ever our communities need people to get involved. The shift manager at the local superstore might help with the little league, but it's not part of her job. As a Realtor or unaffiliated real estate agent you are at kid carnivals and fund raisers. You weed the community garden and wax nostalgic at county fairs.
You don't have to do it all. Find a couple good causes to fit into your routine. Walk a 5k for cancer or just to pick up litter. You'll stay in shape, you'll clear your head and...you'll be networking. But you already know that.
You might think it grossly cynical to look at volunteering as just an opportunity to increase your bottom line, but we're way past that. People donate so they can get a write-off. If you call right now PBS will send Suze Orman to balance your checkbook. And everyone knows that once you're out there, whether wiping the neighbor kid's nose at a soccer game or getting hit on by a someone older than your grandfather at an Elk's Club cake walk, you're there because you love the people. You thrive on the social experience. If you didn't then you would have never bothered getting in this hectic business.
So look yourself in the mirror, toss the lint brush on the bed and get out there. You may be out for a night of networking, but you're doing a world of good.
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