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Big Bang Networking

The past week I went to the 5th entrepreneur summit of the Guadalajara AMCHAM. A great place to do Networking.

This meeting has the main theme the moment in which the business men realized a moment or opportunity gap that make the ignition for an expansion or potencialization of their business, that's why Big Bang.

In this event entrepreneurs came to share their experiences. Most of the speakers were founding partner or second or third generation directors from a family industry. Their shared experiences allow you to think about the decisions taken at some point and allow you to introduce them on your personal context.

Furthermore to the conferences, the organizers created a workshop where you had the opportunity to talk one on one with entrepreneurs from different industries. The environment created make it easy to have a direct conversation and learn from their personal experience. You can seize the opportunity to reach out and ask specific things about their practice.

When a youngster reach some of this workshops and ask questions about fund raising, legal matters or consulting services, you thank organizations like AMCHAM to provide this community service, that is really necessary to support the new talent development.

So, my recommendation when you participate in this type of events:

1.- Have an interaction attitude, you will be meeting a lot of new faces, just understand that this people are looking for the same objective. Networking.

2.- Take your presentation cards, remember that a lot of people will be willing to make some new contacts and you want that the people remember you, or at least your data.

3.- Bring a small notebook and a pen. Yes we are in the middle of the technology age, but sometimes is easier to make some notes and place a small indicator just to remember the issue you will have to do some follow up.

Last but not least, remember when was your last time that you participate in a networking event. Don't you think is time for you to do another one?

Tortilla Networking

Have you ever tried freshly made tortillas? Haven't it been the best experience? MMMMMMMM......

This weekend I was walking downtown with my kids, and suddenly we find a tortilleria. Unexpectedly it has no line, here in Mexico the tortilla line is a classic.

So we arrived and asked for a tortilla kilogram, and the sound and smells of the machine remind me my childhood. So I ask the clerk that if he could give me a tortilla. I have to describe the experience:

He took the tortilla directly from the machine and pass it to me, the product was still inflated, then I see at the end of the bar a salt dispenser. So with my hot tortilla in my hands I added the salt, and then make it a taco and give the first try. It couldn't be better the taste of the nixtamal mixture and it reminds me my Mexico. The clerk then ask me if I just wanted a kilo, of course what I want was the whole machine in my house so I can continue to have the experience. The tortilla sensation is soft on the inside and toasty on the outside.

My kids watch me as I enjoy the bites and ask one for each, this strategy always works, you ask for one, and then you have to buy some more. On the previous years this was known as the "pilón", they sell for you a kilogram and instead of the customer providing the tip, the seller was the one who have to give you a little extra.

We continue walking, and of course, eating more tortillas, without the salt, but the experience of trying a freshly made food from Mexico that has been a culture landmark is a thing you have to try when you come to my country.

Now I share some recommendations for you when you go to the tortillería:

1.- If there is a line, speak with the people that are around you. A perfect start could be, What are you going to eat with your tortillas?

2.- Speak with the clerk, it could be useful to learn the process of the tortilla making.

3.- Take advantage and taste the freshly made tortillas, it's an exquisite experience.

Donuts Networking or Job Bulling

The past week I received an email from Fernando, an admissions assessor, we were planning a reunion about the ending of the campaign when he wrote us the following message:

(Hi Team, good night! I want to share that because of the excellent campaign season, I will invite everyone the coffee's and donuts on Monday. Regards!)

I felt really special, and the rest of the girls on the team too. We all thanked him for the detail. On Monday when he had to bring the items he promised he told me that everything was a misunderstood or a Job Bulling process.

It happens that when Fernando moved from his spot for a few minutes, the girls of the team seized the opportunity and "assaulted" his computer. They sent an email from his account and committed him to bring donuts and coffee the meeting day!

The advantage is that Fernando is a very kind person and committed with the team, so he didn't want to skip this networking opportunity. He took as a funny little joke and to bond in a better way with the team.

The following Monday he arrived with the donuts and share with all of us. At this moment he is our favorite person at the team.

I want to share with you my feelings:

1.- Take care of your things and never leave your computer without a password, it will prevent you to be "bullied"

2.- If you are going to make a practical joke as this, you have to make sure you can take some of them too.

3.- If you are the one that gets the joke, take it easy, don't make it personal and have some fun with your coworkers.

Do you have a similar anecdote to tell?

Masks Networking

Javi and Juan invited me to their event "Do your Mask", each guest to their wedding will make a mask that will be worn on the event day. Have you been at a party like this?

Let me tell you, the whole idea was to ask for help and when their friends get to their home, each of us will help disguise the mask, the networking behind the event included the reunion of a lot of their guests and make us to gather around for a while.I found this as an innovative idea because mainly the wedding day a lot of us will be fun to say hello to the new friends we've made at this special party

Javi created the event and send us "save the date" invitations, and then talk to some of us to teach us what he expected for us to do at his home. Then he told us about the mask event at the party, the music that will be creating the environment and what he expected for his guests. He prepared before, make some research on the mask theme, brought the material, shared it, and then he made a presentation so everybody will know how to make each mask. He also gave us some assignments, at least each of us have to do 3 masks. I was chatting so I made just 2 of them, the best thing is that my friend Gaby made 5 so we get even.

Other important issues at the event where the "bring to" things, some get the beverages or the snacks, they prepared and have all set the working spaces. Also there were some desserts, so food and drinking where all supplied by the time we get there.

At the end, the last of us, help them to make a paper flower wall that they will be mounting on the event, and as in any social event, the guest participation will be a lot more fun and interesting if everyone feels familiar to the other people. I'm sure that the event will be a very warmth and active, and for us that participated at this mask event, a lot more fun. See you at the wedding!!!

Networking politness in business appointments

Some days ago, one of my friends was visibly upset, he told me that it was his second time that had been dumped at a business appointment. He had planned the meeting, now for a second time, and asked some people to be at the restaurant and without any explanation his date didn't show up, neither she sent a message. How would you reacted?

Communication in this type of situations is really important, everyone can have a mishap, but there are some politeness rules that you should not forget to follow, it doesn't matter the environment you are, either business or social.

Rule 1: If you think that your date is not going to be interesting, don't make a commitment in the first place. Is possible that the person is really interested in asking you to go the meeting, have you being asked to those presentations of vacation share times? Did anyone want you to buy an insurance? Maybe you understand my point. You shall say no to this type of commitments, but if you have given your word and accepted the appointment, you have to be there. Then you will find a way to retract or not buy the product, but you have to be there.

Rule 2: If you have an alibi, like you have a flat tire, or a minor accident, then take a little time and tell your contact that you will be late. There are some cultures around the world that don't accept delays, like the Germans. Latins are really flexible on times, but an hour delay its considered disrespectful.

Rule 3: If you have canceled a first appointment, a second one is seen like a totally lack of interest. If a customer cancels you on the first time, and you are interested in the selling, you will be tempted to ask for a second date, but if your customer misses the second appointment, then you should consider that maybe he will be not as good customer as you think, probably he is not into the product, maybe he is a "bad payer" or maybe he is just a not commiter. Don't give your suppliers this idea, always take your phone and take care of the situation. Leave behind a professional image.

Remember the courtesy and networking are fundamental pillars to personal relations, job or social. Consider always the people you are interacting with, when you have to cancel a date. Can you share some experience on this matter?

In Memoriam Networking

This post is dedicated to Alfredo Moreno Ricart, an excellent friend and peer since my college studies.

Death is something we know eventually come, but we don't expect to receive this type of news from someone that young. I heard first from the chat our generation has since several months ago. On the social networks the thankful notes and friendship tokens were plenty. The first reaction of my college friends were from disbelief, then we start asking tor confirmations and at the end we started to express our condolences.

As a group of managers, the proposals about the different things we could do to express our admiration keep flowing. We propose to organize a Mass at Monterrey, go to the memorial in Reynosa, and send an obituary to a newspaper.

While writing the message to Alfredo make us remember the best times we had with him. We share some photos and memories. Thanks to Elena coordination and the comments of the people at the chat we could made the publishing.

Personally I want to share that my last contact with Alfredo was related to a post that I publish back in April, "Petworking". I send him an inbox asking him to share me some of this Zoo pictures. He answered me back and I like to share with you the last words he send me, so you can imagine the great human being he was.

"Goodbye's are part of life, sometimes it's necessary to say goodbye and leave a memory about us before leaving, "