MASTERING THE MEMBERSHIP MAZE: Getting Out of Conversations

Mastering the Membership Maze
with Glen Gould

Talk about uncomfortable. Not long ago I was at a networking event and found myself in one of those conversations I wanted out of! You know what I mean, you meet someone and you immediately know that you have nothing in common; all you want to do is move on. But how? What should you do when you find yourself in a conversation you want out of?

After years of experience I can tell you some of the things that don't work.

Don't let your eyes wander away from your conversation partner – you'll get caught by the person you're supposed to be talking to – how embarrassing!

Don't make up a lame excuse – you'll likely say something silly like "I've got to go to the bathroom." Really? This is like asking permission in grade school.

Don't say you're looking for someone else – you might as well say, "hey, you're not very important and I'm looking for someone who is." Ouch!

And of course there's the classic "dump off". You know, you want out of the conversation so you introduce the person to anyone nearby. Would you want that to happen to you?

Of course there are hundreds of other faux pas, but only one correct way. It's incredibly simple yet so rarely used. Here's the script:

"It was nice meeting you." If you've met them before, "It was nice seeing you again." That's it. Shake hands and walk away. Simple right? So why don't we use this technique?

We mistakenly assume we owe others an explanation for our actions. While there are times when this is true, we owe no one an explanation for our style of mingling at a networking event. It comes from our desire to be liked, to be treated fairly, and to please others. We think we owe the person we've meet enough attention to make them feel validated.

But staying in a conversation with another just because we think we should doesn't help anyone. It actually hurts. If you tie someone up in a meaningless conversation they loose the opportunity to engage in a conversation of meaning with someone else.

Just walk away. Say, "It was nice seeing you." It works every time. But beware of your desire to let someone down gently. Don't add anything to the script. You'll be tempted to say, "Maybe we can get together sometime." That just adds expectations that you aren't wanting. Keep it simple. "It was nice meeting you."

An engaging platform speaker and author of four books, Glen Gould is a business growth and relationship specialist who understands business people and how they connect. He helps entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-minded organizations leverage relationships to

create amazing results.

Glen Gould has worked with Fortune 500 corporations including Allstate, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Kmart, Albertsons, and Publix as well as thousands of small and mid- sized firms. Additionally, Glen works with chambers of commerce and associations throughout the world to help them grow and retain their membership.

Glen Gould

glen@inspirationagents.com

770-435-0781

www.InspirationAgents.com
Inspiring Positive Change

www.IsYourNetworkingWorking.com
Powerful Networking Tools

www.AtlantaCommunityBreakfast.com

Bringing business people together to discuss faith and values in the workplace

For more information, please visit Glen's TNNW Bio.

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MASTERING THE MEMBERSHIP MAZE: Getting Out of Conversations

UNIVERSAL GUIDE TO NETWORKING - You're Already Connected

Universal Guide to Networking with Terry Bean

Connecting people create opportunities.
Opportunities create people connecting.

The good news for you is that you are already connected. In being so, opportunities are already being created by you. Some of them will be for you. Others will be for those you know or are about to.

These connections are more than just the people in your network. They are parts of your universe. And if you want your Universe to be good to you, you have to be good to it.

Every moment we have the chance to do something great. But that only happens when we are aware. Sense the moments that you live and you will instantly note how connected you really are.

Spend some time in any field on a warm sunny day. Do you feel the breeze and
the warmth of the sun? Can you smell the summer air around you (not
recommended for folks near cow pastures or paper mills)? Do you hear the
insects, birds and leaves? Look around you. Do you see to what you are
connected? And since you are, we all are too.

We live in a time where there is an awakening like never before. People are
coming into an awareness that few have always known. This lifting of the veil
will serve mankind like no one ever has. That awakening is when we all realize
werall1.

That oneness, once fully realized will allow us to truly advance as a species.
We will all start pulling the rope in the same direction. We can make life work
for us as opposed to us working for it.

They say that we use less than 8% of our brain. Imagine what we can
accomplish when we double that usage. We won't need to stop there. The great
thing is that all advanced civilizations realize how to work together for the
good of all. We are getting closer to that. All we need to do is make sure we
don't blow ourselves up first.

We are already plugged into the same fabric of being. While I am not sure
whether or not other fabrics simultaneously exist. I can tell you that you are
in my fabric for a reason: so that I can help you. If I do nothing more than
open your eyes to the reality that we are here to be good to one another, than I
have helped not only you but those you encounter.

You are networkers and connectors. Share this message. Please.

Be Connected-

Terry Bean

Terry Bean is the founder of www.motorcityconnect.com, Detroit's fastest growing networking group. He is also the founder of www.networkedinc.com- a business development training firm that focuses on helping people make more productive use of their online and offline networking time. Terry provides training and large scale presentations on networking, social media usage and universal laws. Hot off the press, Terry just released his first CD entitled "The Five U's of Networking" e-mail tbean@networkedinc.com to reserve your copy.

For more information, please visit Terry's TNNW Bio.


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UNIVERSAL GUIDE TO NETWORKING - You're Already Connected

WRITE TO EXCITE: What Is Your Passion?

Write to Excite with Peter Biadasz

In last months article we discussed your talent (You Have A Talent!) If you feel that your talent is writing; an article, email, blog, book, screenplay, poem, etc., then you are in the right place to learn how to write something to either excite yourself or someone else. If you feel you are alone in the desire to write something you are in big company. Studies have shown that 70% of people in the USA want to write a book, but just don’t know how to get started. Working with first time authors keeps me busy. Many times people will say they have and idea and do not know what to do next to develop the idea into a book, etc. Sometime someone will offer that they have written a piece and do not know what to do next. It in these scenarios that I thrive.

I have always heard that you should write what you know and something you have a passion for. Passion is defined by Merriam-Webster as “an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction, and a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.” Reflect on the things in your life that you are passionate about. Now begin to make a list of them now as you read this article. One of the mistakes that many people make it to write about something that other people are passionate about, thinking they are playing to a certain audience. When you write what you are passionate about the passion comes through in your writings, be it a blog, book or article, rather than a flat writing exercise to please another person. We are raised to write what we are required to do for a grade in school. Now you have the opportunity to write what you want for the reasons that you desire.

After you have listed your passions, rank the list in orders of passion strength and knowledge of each topic. Pick one of the top 3 on your list and start the writing process.

You may not even know what you are going to write; book, article, blog, etc. That is ok. Just start to list all the ideas you have on the topic you have chosen. No idea is too small or too big to list. After you have completed your list of ideas go to the internet, to a book store or library, to see what else on your topic may have been written. By doing this you are not only researching your passion, but identifying what unique perspective you bring to the topic.

Now that you have identified your passion, listed your ideas and performed some research; write an article, blog or book. Be careful to not write and edit at the same time. Writing involves the creative side of the brain while editing involves the other side of the brain. Write the price in its entirety and then go back and edit. By following this process you will find writing less frustrating.
After all, you should enjoy the writing experience. Enjoy the experience!

If you have any questions about this writing process feel free to contact me at the e-mail address listed below.

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, as well as the newly released Write Your First Book, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To contact Peter about getting your book published feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

For more information, please visit Peter's TNNW Bio.

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WRITE TO EXCITE: What Is Your Passion?