cup of coffee

How Rude!

by Charlie Lawson on December 10, 2012 · 8 comments

At a networking event recently, I bumped into Elizabeth, an old colleague from a previous job.  As it was a busy event, we both agreed that we should sit down for a coffee to have a proper catch up, so we arranged to meet the following week.

With the chance to talk properly, it turned out that through our various contacts, we were both in a position to help each other.  I was really excited – her current role was on a project with a client that I’d been interested to get an introduction to, and amongst other things, I’d done a speaking session for a franchise business that her firm really wanted to pitch for.  [click to continue…]

What’s business networking got to do with fishing?

by Charlie Lawson on November 16, 2011 · 3 comments

Imagine, if you will, a fishing boat out in the North Sea. The bulging fishing net is being hoisted out of the water, full of fish.  And as the droplets of water run down to the bottom of the net, they drip into a steaming hot cup of coffee.

What?

Let me explain.  This is a revolutionary way of looking at networking given to me by the ever-excellent Andy Bounds*, which, while it sounds wacky, is a great analogy on networking events.
[click to continue…]