A List Of Cock Wombles I Have Met At Networking Events!
A List Of Cock Wombles That I Have Met At Networking Events And What We Can Learn From Their Screw Ups
It's no secret that I have built my various businesses through networking. Going to networking events up and down the UK has caused me to raise my profile among business owners faster than I ever thought possible. I continue to network and as I do, my businesses continues to grow.
I get asked all of the time for my big secret to being a successful business networker. What one piece of advice can I give that will help people to get more out of attending a networking event? Having thought long and hard about this I think I have the perfect tip that I would like to share with you today.
DON'T BE A COCK WOMBLE
I know it should go without saying that you shouldn't be a cock womble. However I have met many cock wombles at networking events over the years. Without fail all of them disappeared off the face of the planet after a while because they decided that business networking didn't work for their business. In reality networking works for every business however it didn't work for them because they were cock womble.
So instead of going through a list of what you should and shouldn't do at a networking event and how you should act I thought I'd approach this a little differently. Instead I'm going to list some of the cock wombles I have met at various networking events and talk about what they did wrong. This will ultimately show you how you should act if you want to be a successful networker. I have changed the names of these people to protect the innocent:
John attended a networking event a few months ago wanting to connect with landlords because he ran a contract cleaning company. He was introduced to me by another networker who knows me very well. She said to John, "You should speak to Craig, he is a magician and will probably be able to help you". At this point John looked at me and said, "I don't want to speak to you, a magician can't help me, I need someone who can connect me to landlords". He then walked away from me without saying another word.
What John did not realise is that I run a property management company with hundreds of landlords as clients. I also personally know Samuel Leeds and Simon Zutchi two of the top property investors in the country. I could connect him to hundreds of landlords.
The point here is never prejudge the room. You might think there is nobody at the event that can help you. It's not who is in the room, it's who they know. One of my biggest contracts (worth hundreds of thousands of pounds) came from a florist who knew someone who knew someone. Aim to get to know everyone. Educate them about what you do and you will be amazed at what comes from these simple conversations.
I met Simon a couple of years ago. He was selling a Network Marketing Health Product. Nothing against network marketers, some of them are amazing. Unfortunately Simon was anything but amazing. He had a one to one with me and spent the whole time selling me the opportunity of working for his NWM Company and joining his team. I pointed out several times that I was too busy with my various companies. He told me that I was doing a disservice to my family and that ultimately my businesses will fail. He said that joining his team would ensure that when my business does fail I have a back up plan.
Seriously, what? Simon must have been the biggest cock womble of the whole list. Within one ten minute conversation he had annoyed me to the point I never wanted to see him again. The thing to learn here is that when you are having a one to one with someone it should be a two way conversation. The point is not to spend ten minutes selling what you do. The point is to start building a relationship with each other. When I have a one to one I rarely talk about what I do. Instead I spend the entire time find out out about the person I'm speaking to. This ultimately makes me more memorable which is the point. If people remember me when they need what I do they'll come to me.
David was a fairly experienced networker and therefore should have known better. At a large networking event he showed up in a total mood. He was snapping at everyone and when people asked if he was okay he told them to mind their own business. This behaviour got worse and worse. Then half way through the meeting he just left telling everyone he couldn't be arsed anymore. Please bear in mind that David was a Success Coach, his thing was teaching people how to have a great mindset. After this meeting David was never seen again.
The issue here is that David obviously had some problems and he brought them to the meeting. Whatever issues he had there were only two correct ways of dealing with them. Either put a pin in his problems and put a brave face on for the duration of the meeting or don't attend the meeting in the first place. What he definitely shouldn't have done is turn up and effectively ruin his reputation within one hour.
When you are at a network meeting people are judging you. They are deciding how good you are at what you do by your actions. If you teach public speaking you need to make sure your elevator pitch is awesome. If you sell fancy expensive watches you don't want to turn up wearing a cheap watch that cost you five quid. And if you are a Success coach you don't want to turn up depressed and taking it out on everyone else.
The bottom line is think about how you act when attending networking meeting. Reputations take forever to create but can be destroyed in an instant.
I have only seen Sandra at one meeting ever. She arrived and literally hit the ground running (and not in a good way). She ran a nail salon and within one meeting of arriving was going around every person handing them a business card and a leaflet. As she did she said, "Here's my card, I run a nail salon. Please come and visit it and tell everyone". Before the person she was speaking to could say anything she left to find someone else to speak to.
I watched this happening and when she came to me I asked her a question before she could leave. I said, "I don't really need a nail salon but I might know people that do. Can I sit down with you for a few minutes and find out more about your business?" She looked at me and said, "Sorry, I haven't got time to talk to you. I have to make sure everyone here has my business card". At which point she left to give out more leaflets.
Okay so it's possible that Sandra wasn't a dick. However she was completely clueless. What she was doing was essentially spamming the networking event. There are laws about spam when it comes to email but there are no such laws when it comes to networking. Once again this is all about building relationships with the people in the room. I can guarantee that all those business cards she gave out went in the bin almost immediately. The reason being she didn't give anybody a reason to use her services, nobody got to know her.
What she should have done is worked out what problem her service solves and then spent the time speaking to people, getting to know them and their business. Then if she meets anyone who has the problem her business can solve arrange a one to one with them. I think that the reason I only saw Sandra once is because she decided networking wasn't for her. To be honest if that was her go to approach at every networking meeting I would have to agree with her.
This is a strange one because I only met Stacey twice and each time for about a minute. Stacey arrived at two networking meetings I was attending within a week. At both networking meetings she arrived and within 5 minutes she had left. The reason is she realised that there was someone else at the event that did exactly the same as her (she was an accountant). She thought that attending the meeting was a waste of time and walked out the door (at the same time making sure that everyone at the meeting realised how she had put herself out).
The thing that Stacey didn't understand is that people buy from people not because of the businesses. What I mean by that is that even if there were four accountants in the room it wouldn't matter. Her goal should have been to build relationships with as many people as possible so when they want an accountant (or meet someone that does) she is the go to person.
The other thing to consider is that being in a room with competitors is a great opportunity to form collaborative partnerships. I generate over 50% of my turnover for Slightly Unusual from other magicians and entertainment companies. I went out of my way to build relationships with these companies and people and as a result I'm their go to referral partner. You never know what business can be done by sitting down with a competitor.
I met Paul at a few networking events a few years ago and then he dropped off the face of the planet. To be fair Paul wasn't a cock womble as such. However he did something at every networking meeting he attended which probably turned people off from doing business with him. Basically he was constantly distracted throughout the whole meeting. While people were talking about their business he was on his phone not paying attention. When there was a speaker at the front of the room he once again spent the entire time on his phone. The only time I had a one to one with him he left after two minutes because he had an important phone call he had to take. Basically he gave everyone the impression that he didn't care about them or their business.
Once again this comes back to making sure you build relationships when networking (perhaps we are seeing a pattern here!). It's called Networking not NetSITTING or NetEATING, you have to work at it. Basically Paul was taking a couple of hours out of his day and achieving absolutely nothing. Nobody would use his services because he showed no interest in anyone else's business. If you show an interest in someone and their business, they will show an interest in yours. BNI call this Givers Gain. If you refer business to people, they will want to reciprocate.
When you are attending a networking meeting understand that you have to work at it. Pay attention to people, don't take phone calls, don't get distracted. Make sure that people see you are taking an interest in them and they will return the favour. If you half arse it then Networking will never work for you or your business (just ask Paul).
This is an odd one. Fred was a nice guy. Fred did everything right when he attended networking events. However he screwed everything up after the meeting. What he did after the meetings caused so many people to be annoyed with him. Not a week went by without someone complaining to me about Fred. This ultimately led to him disappearing from the networking circuit never to be seen again.
So what did Fred do that was so bad? After he got your business card he would spam you forever with emails begging you to buy his stuff. Literally every day an email would arrive in your inbox selling something else. Fred sold cars and so every email would be highlighting another car you could buy. After a while this gets very annoying.
Let me explain something to you. Meeting someone at a networking meeting is not an open invitation to spam them forever. Nothing turns people off more than a whole bunch of spammy emails they aren't interested in. I'm not saying that you shouldn't follow up with people you meet, far from it. But there are ways to do this and ways not to do this.
The best way to do this is to drop an email to someone after a meeting saying it was great to meet them. You can even include a link to your website or social media channels. Make sure you follow people and their business on Twitter, LinkedIn etc. You might want to arrange to meet for a coffee or arrange another one to one at the next networking meeting you are both attending.
After this if you have something that adds value to the person you met email that to them. For example an accountant could send an ebook about how to improve cash flow. All this is building a relationship and positioning you as an expert in your field. That way when the person you met needs your services they will call you. Bottom line is the relationship building process extends beyond the meeting. You can make or destroy your reputation with what you do after the meeting. Be mindful of that.
So there you have it. Seven cock wombles that I have met at networking events. There have been many others but I honestly believe you can learn someone from each of these people.
Networking is a fantastic way to build your business and I love it. But please remember not to be a Cock Womble!
If you want to find out more about me you can visit my website
https://www.craig-petty.com
If you would like more information about my online Virtual Coaching Programme please visit
https://www.maximise-success.com
https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/craig-petty-19192167
Thanks for reading. Have a great day.
