A few years ago I started a business networking group called 'Social Networking for Business'. It wasn't as the name may suggest an online social media group, but events that were organised in bars and clubs.
The reason I decided to start the group was because I found that the established groups I attended were a little too regimented and they wasn't really for me, so I came upon the idea of something more relaxed, where people could mingle and socialise at the same time as discussing business.
It was at one of these events that a young lady attended who had just started her own business and this was her first networking event. She was quite nervous, and found it difficult to interact. At these events I offered a select few to do a '5 minute pitch' about themselves, their company and what they could offer and what they were looking for.
I suggested to this young lady that she took this opportunity, but, she was scared to do it. We spoke about it and I explained that we all started at this point and it is about overcoming your fears to build your confidence and I would introduce her and explain it is her first event etc, and I finally won her round.
Nervously she started her presentation, and, although as you would expect the odd stutter here and there, she did brilliantly. Over time her confidence built to a level that she started and organised one of my networking groups in her area and now successfully runs her own VA business.
I was reminded of this story only just recently when I went to see a new client. We talked about their business and the type of work they did. They had recently completed a large design and installation for a wealthy client who had a few large properties. He had retained their services for what they thought was going to be a few window treatments. In reality, it turned out to be a complete design and install project in a very large period house.
This had completely removed them from their comfort zone, and for a small company they were quite apprehensive about taking on a project of this size. However, not only did they successfully complete the project on time and on budget, but it had overcome their fears and has given them the confidence to know that they have the capability to take on any project that comes their way in the future.
So, in the words of the Baz Luhrmann song Sunscreen "at least once a day do something that scares you"!
John Northwood
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