When Was the Last Time You Said, “Hello”?

Hey, Anthony here. I was in Austin, Texas last week for Solar Business Festival. There were a number of speakers taking the stage and I noticed disturbing behavior whenever a session ended.

When it was time for a break, only a handful of men and women headed toward the front of the room, toward the stage. Everyone else was funneling out the exit doors, down the hall, out the building, or to wherever their destination was taking them.

I sat and observed.

The few people who decided to move against the flow of traffic or wait in their seats until the aisles were clear sought out one of the speakers.

Some of these people asked questions. Some made comments. Others tried to pitch ideas. Of the 10 or so (on average) who actually took the time, not a single one offered a business card, their name, or tried to make a personal connection with that speaker. No one asked for their personal phone number or email.

Networking is Crucial

That’s what some of these conferences, seminars, and workshops are all about. People who talk about the industry, who lead seminars, who have experience, knowledge, and insight can be powerful assets.

Don’t miss an opportunity. Take the extra 5 or 10 minutes it might require and go introduce yourself. You may assume these speakers are bombarded by people looking for some special insight, connection, or favor, but most of them are sincerely passionate about what they do.

And they treasure the rare moments when someone in the audience wants to connect.

These intimate connections are vital to success.

You might not see the fruit of these connections in the next couple of weeks, months, or even the next year, but eventually the more you make, the more they begin to impact your professional life.

Selling high ticket items require more intimate and personal relationships. You can’t simply text somebody or Facetime with them and expect a commitment for tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

They demand closer, intimate time. Coffee, dinner, conversations that last more than a couple of minutes, and so forth. This is where commitment happens.

The next time you attend a conference or seminar or even a workshop, no matter how long you’ve sat in that seat, no matter how loud your stomach is groaning from hunger, don’t rush for the doors.

Instead, turn your focus to where it had been for the past several hours: to the stage. To the presenters. To the keynote speakers. And to all the other people who help make these events possible. You’ll find gold there you never knew existed.

Now, go make things happen. And remember, live with passion.

Anthony