Networking: a major weakness as strength.

[Writer]

I admit it. I suck at networking. Call it a mix of shyness and laziness, but for me meeting new people is always a problem. Once they get to know me – and I get to know “them” – things become much better.
I was told many times that I look always pissed off, but once I am “in” I become the life of the group. I guess that I find difficult opening up.
I know already that this is going to be one of the many problems I will have to face if I want to be successful, therefore I am trying to work on this bad weakness.
Tuesday was election day, and a friend of mine – a local politician – invited me to a closed party with many other politicians, and their friends and family. At first I was thinking about refusing, but then I thought that there’s no better opportunity to get to know people. Politicians have an extended network of people, after all it’s their job. So I forced myself to go to the party. Councilmen, judges, county commissioners etc. were all present. Also, a couple of US and State Congressmen were present (they were assaulted by “friends”, of course).
I think I made a decent impression, most people were likable and were very willing to talk to me. The county commissioner was very talkative with me; we discussed about politics, sports and general stuff. He befriended me on Facebook and he told me via private message that he wants to meet me again (I guess he was fascinated by the fact that I am from Italy). At the party, I did not talk about my entrepreneurial wishes and desires. I kept it cool; I was not going there begging for a job, I was there to meet people.
All of this to say that although it was difficult, I think it was very useful in gaining some personal visibility. Now I have to figure out how to keep up with the contacts.
Since networking is one of my major weaknesses, I will try to make it a strength and I will use this post as a sort of unofficial progress thread that I will update once in a while.
PS: If you really want to know, it was a Republican party. I am in Texas.

 

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