Page 28 - September 2020 Voices

ON THE PATH

Networking?

Not My Cup of Tea!

James Wantz, DTM

Ok, full disclosure statement: I dislike wall of shame. Networking is for extroverts. I am
networking. Detest it. Loathe it. Flee from it. I’d an introvert. I suspect networking (my version
rather give a keynote speech in front of 4,000 of hell) for the extroverted is something akin
people than get stuck with networking small talk. to sitting in a quiet room while reading a good

I’d rather live through a pandemic, wildfires, and book with a lap cat (my version of heaven). Why
hazardous air quality than network. And I might does meeting people have to be sooooo difficult?
be putting that lightly. My first networking event Networking and dating are synonymous—we
went exactly like this: are attempting to convince the person in front of

“You from around here?” I asked the lady us that we are worth getting to know, intelligent,
to my right after seeing that small talk was funny, a good prospect, dependable, and not too
expected. hard on the eyes (despite the evidence right in
“Yes, but not originally. You see I’m from. . .” front of them). A few years ago a friend set me

I was no longer listening. I was so relieved up with a blind date. That has got to be the worst
that my question was intelligible. I was breathing type of networking event in the world (we aren’t
easy for the first time since entering the room. friends anymore).
About a minute into her answer I started getting I arrived early, got a table, bit all my nails

anxious again. I had to come up with a second off, and rose to greet the other person when he
question. Ugh! Who knew talking to people walked in the door.
would be so difficult! “Hi, I’m James. Wow! You don’t look anything
She stopped talking, smiled, and looked at like your picture.”

me expectantly. I was sweating. “Um. . . yeah, neither do you. . .hmm.”
I said the first thing that came to mind, “Uh— I stuck out my hand for a more formal
you from around here?” greeting, and he finished his next sentence with
She was no longer smiling. Face palm in the the three most terrifying words in the world.

extreme! “Handshake, pshaw! I’m a hugger.”
I have a story like that for every networking I shuddered.
event (and date) I’ve ever been to. Pictures of me So. . .let’s recap. I dislike networking, am
at those events would constitute a very effective introverted, and don’t like being touched. Enter

28 ONE COMMUNITY