Networking Is Forever..........

As I said before networking is essential in every way in order to build relationships and keep in contact with potential clients and future prospects. Once we have a database of contacts there is little point stopping at that and never networking again. I recently joined LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaoj in case you want to check out my profile. My husband, Dave, suggested this was a good networking opportunity that I can utilize from the comfort of my office. I am looking for more contacts in the USA or UK if anyone who has similar interests to me would like to look into joining my network. As the keynote speaker for an event recently at the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce I sat at the VIP table and networked till my hearts content. I enjoyed every minute of it because it was social networking whilst we ate our lunch and all the people I met that day were interested in finding out more about me and vice versa. Once I arrived back at my office I sent out emails to the contacts I had met, indicated that it was wonderful to meet them and I suggested that we keep in touch. I am more relaxing networking now than ever before and, as I said before, building relationships with people really does pay off. One of the topics that came up during lunch was the now famous Blackberry. I for one believe that it is rude to sit there tapping away sending emails or such like. It was interesting to find that most people feel the same way. It used to be that it was rude to talk on a cell phone whilst in company, at lunch for instance. Unless, obviously it was a dire emergency.  Also we discussed the probability that many people may suffer strain to their thumbs with overuse and that time will tell if further health challenges do arise. It may sound funny, but in reality we must look at our behaviour whilst tin company and ask ourselves if it is acceptable. I notice most people who are introducing a speaker ask that all cell phones be turned off during a presentation. I think  we should  also ask that people stop tapping away sending emails or messages whilst a presentation is happening. Once again, if an emergency arises the person should leave the room to send that urgent email, but if it is not urgent does that mean they are bored with the presentation? It is strange what conversations people have whilst networking. Next time I write in my blog I will talk about how the subject of security came up at one networking event I attended.