As long as not all of your time is taken up with networking and ‘getting to know you’ meetings, what is the harm in having an occasional coffee to meet new people and to find out more about them?

@Andrew Nothing worse than those that throw their card at you, or visit a table and give everyone your card. You’re right that has very little (if any) value to me, build a relationship, go from there.’

Thanks for your comments guys.

Real networking (relationship networking) takes time and the rewards are not always immediately seen. This is why some people get discouraged, but when you network in such a way that you focus on relationships you have to be prepared to work at it.

Some people consider networking simply meeting people and handing them their business card. I am generalizing a little here, but I really do believe some people think that’s what it’s about. “They’ve got my card, if they need my service they will call.” But will they? Have you invested in a relationship with that person? In my opinion, the people who become discouraged with networking are the people not focused on building real relationships.

That word of mouth did more for my playing schedule than any amount of passing out business cards ever did. I got calls years later out of the blue because people knew me and that I was dependable.

That’s the trick with networking is you not only have to do it, you have to show up when they finally call! But that’s the easy part…