How To: Become a Campus Networker, Part 2
This is Part 2 in the series How To: Become a Campus Networker. Catch up by reading Part 1 if you haven’t already done so.
Who’s Ready to PARTY?
It’s a Friday night and classes are done for the week – YES!! – so what do you do? Here are your options 1.) Hit the books with some homework 2.) Go crawl onto a couch with your girlfriend/boyfriend and rent a Blockbuster movie or 3.) Invite some of your buddies over and throw a party!
Hmm… the choices…the choices…well I say this with all seriousness: Student Entrepreneurs should throw parties! Yes, that’s right, throw a bash in your dorm room, a club, on the street, somewhere, and just let loose and have a blast.
Time and time again – especially at parties – people will ask you “What are your interests? What do you plan on doing after college? Do you work? How do you make money?” I don’t know why – maybe it’s the vodka shots or something – but these same questions are invariably asked at almost every party.
Which is just great for the networking entrepreneur, because every question is an entry point into a discussion of explaining your business and how it can possibly help solve a problem in someone’s life.
Parties are notorious for their powers to allow people to relax and open up – the perfect setting to have fun and talk about your interests with friends; especially if the guests at your party already know that you enjoy business and entrepreneurism — this will be their chance to finally pick your brain and really get to know you and what you’re all about.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been literally surrounded by people at parties simply after one person asks me to explain my business and my future plans… within no time other guests (or should I say future clients) from the party immediately become interested in the conversation and what started out as two people casually talking, is now me basically giving a presentation about my business.
You should always, always, always have a nice stack of business cards with you at every party that you throw or attend – it’s a must! Because you can be sure that people are going to want to follow up on your business after you gave them a taste about what you’re all about at the party.
Bottom line: throw a lot of parties, attend a lot of parties, have fun, relax, and be open with people. Your business will truly be rewarded and you’ll be having fun at the same time; win-win, babe!
Stay tuned for part 3….
related article:
Matt, Invenio’s superstar networker has made some of his best connections and relationships at parties…its amazing but true.
I was never a believer in networking but now am completely convinced of its pivotal importance. My belief is that you have to have a story worth telling (building the venture concept) and then the ability to tell that story in a compelling way (networking).
It’s all about mavens, connectors, and salesmen…