I’m not copping out, I swear. But this is another one of those instances where being the last to post on a topic means having nothing more to add. My fellow Babes have covered everything I would have touched on regarding Tips on Attending a Conference and then some.  

Instead, I’m going to zone in on one word: Networking. As a somewhat shy person, that word used to make me cringe. Then I stumbled upon a fantastic book and realized that, by just being me, I was actually pretty darn good at networking. That book is:  Power Networking – 55 Secrets for Personal & Professional Success (By: Donna Fisher and Sandy Vilas). Here’s what they offered that helped me to put networking in perspective.

Networking is not:

Ø      Selling

Ø      Using people strictly for your gain

Ø      Coercing or manipulating someone to do what you want

Ø      Putting friends or associates on the spot

Ø      Badgering people about your business

Networking is:

Ø      The process of gathering, collecting, and distributing information for the mutual benefit of you and the people in your network

Ø      The genuine expression of interest in others and the willingness to contribute and support them when possible

Ø      Giving as well as getting information

You get the drift. And that’s just a teeny fraction of what this book has to offer. I’ll leave you with that recommended reading as well as my overall tip on attending any conference.

Be gracious, genuine, courteous, and above all, generous. Expect nothing in return and you’ll be rewarded tenfold.