Presidential Networking

The past weekend I went to a wedding where Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, former president of Mexico, was invited. Being an observer to a public figure made me have the idea to write this post.

I have to confess that one of my relatives is a good friend of him since a long time ago, and this is my third wedding where I have the opportunity to share, on the first two I was really nervous to meet with him, by this time I think I become used to and I really had the time to watch his interactions. So I share with you some activities that make a people become a really good "networker".

1.- Came to an event with an amusement attitude, of course without loosing the style, presidential flair, leadership, being friendly and attentive with the people that is going to come and greet you.

2.- Be ready and understand the "picture" moments with the attendants, for sure some or all of them will want to keep a token, so prefer standing situations, in a place where is easy to be contacted and if there is a wall on the back it's better so your pictures will have a nice framing.

3.- This leads to a third point, frame good your pictures, this should have the public figure as a central point, but sometimes there are more than 2 people, 3, 4 or more. I have the opportunity to see how the president give instructions to people on how they should stand to be better framed. When he was president his staff do this job, now he can do it by himself.

4.-  Because this event was a wedding, the president was really close to the bride and groom's table but he managed to move between the guests, being at the aisles, and of course the dance floor. He always had this presidential flair, depending on the moment of the party.

An interesting story to share was just before the "Pozole", the music was "Heavy Metal" (Motley Crüe, AC/CD, Deep Purple), so there was few people making the "air guitar". On a moment, Felipe Calderon, stand up, cross the dance floor and approach the DJ. Then he stand at the dance floor and one of my cousins asked him: "What do you say to the DJ?" and he answer us: "Just to play something that I know."

The DJ do a change of music and played "Cuando seas grande (When you grow up)", this song chorus line have this words: "Nenenene di que vas a ser cuando seas grande... Estrella de Rock and Roll... Presidente de la Nación (Bebebebebebe tell me what you want to be when you grow up.... Rock and Roll Star... Nations President)." You may imagine the group of dancers, singing the chorus and pointing at the President at that same moment.

Mi recommendation, is that if you are with some public figure that is going to make through the history text books, seize the moment and approach, this people are great networkers and are always willing to meet more people.