I love to hear creative ideas. I know there are a lot of ideas and information out there. Sometimes, it can feel like we’re being fed by a fire hose. But here’s the thing… you get to pick and choose the ideas you run with. You don’t have to do it all. You can choose the things that most align with you and your message.
The whole point, though, is taking massive action – whatever that looks like for you. In order to master your life, business, and success, you first must master the art of taking massive action.
In my more than 20 years of business, I have come across so many ideas and strategies that have walked me down the path of success. You could never initiate it all at once. Instead, my advice is to initiate what makes sense right now and then continually add what makes sense down the line.
But, there’s also a way to initiate more than one idea at a time…
Combining Two Great Ideas
I’ve written before about networking and also about positioning yourself as an expert with event speaking. Have you ever considered combining the two? What I’m talking about is speaking AT networking events.
There are a few ways you can do this:
- You can speak at a networking event as a member
- You can speak at a networking event as a guest expert
Let’s dive deeper into both.
Speaking as a Member
At any networking event in which you are a member, you will typically have three opportunities to speak.
- During the Meet and Greet
- During your “commercial” (most networking events will allow you to deliver a commercial – whether it’s 30, 45, or 60 seconds.)
- As a member spotlight or highlight
That third option is the one you really want to focus on, the member spotlight. This is where you as a member will typically get anywhere from seven to fifteen minutes (and in some cases, maybe even as long as twenty to thirty minutes) to present. Now, the amount of time isn’t what really matters. What matters is what you do with that time.
I’m sure we’ve all been to networking events where the member speaking just totally wasted their spotlight. They wasted it for themselves and they wasted it for the other members.
It doesn’t matter your industry – you could be in real estate, construction, hair, and makeup, health, and wellness – don’t waste your time speaking by simply showing your business. Use your time to show others in your network how they can help you grow your business – teach them how to refer to you. Really focus on specifics like what good referrals look like for you. Share stories and testimonials. Facts tell, but stories sell.
Speaking as a Networking Event Guest Expert
Some networking events (professional organizations and associations) will look for outside, expert speakers. They do this when they are looking to educate their members. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, there are people out there who are looking for the information you have. Sometimes when they bring someone from the outside in, it’s to educate their members on a new level.
If you get in as a guest speaker, the posture you’re going to take is to educate them on what they don’t know they don’t know. Educate them on pitfalls and the hairpin corners they don’t know about – whatever that is in your industry.
The level of edification and credibility you will get positioning yourself as a speaker is HUGE, especially at networking events!