I'm really enjoying networking lately. No, not computer networking, or social networking. I'm talking in-person meeting people for business connections. :)

As a geek who used to suffer from debilitating social anxiety, it's huge to actually like meeting lots of people at networking types of events.

Here are some tips I'm picking up that have made a huge difference:

1. Talk passionately about your exciting geeky project. When someone new asks what you do, let 'em know! If you're not working on an exciting project, go start one!

2. Be less goal-oriented. All the connectors I know recommend this. The temptation when networking is to try to get something accomplished, which tends to suffocate the connection.

3. Get curious. Ask questions about your new friend's passions, interests, and skills. What do they geek out about?

4. Give first. Focus on connecting the person you're talking to with people that can help them reach their goals, or help them brainstorm ways to get things done.

5. Be humble. How much help can you stand receiving? Be open to getting more than you feel worthy of.

6. Have a clear and exciting elevator speech. Carefully craft your answer to "what do you do?" People should get it immediately, get intrigued, and ideally laugh! Check out the book POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd for advice.

7. Have business cards. Sounds obvious, but there's a reason they were invented, and networking is that reason. Get ones that look good, so you are excited about handing them out.

8. Talk to people you are afraid of. Use networking as a way to practice courageously facing your fears! It's exhilarating and will build your skills rapidly.

9. Go with friends. Just as it's easier to strike up a conversation with a pretty lady when you have a wingman, bring a friend to an event to help relax and unleash the social animal within.

10. Think in percentages. Let the duds go and don't be attached to every connection turning into something. Probably less than 20% of the people you meet will turn out to be great connections.

Now go try these! And remember to have fun!

Recently I've been blessed with extreme chaos in my life and work. It's given me an opportunity to review what's really important to me, and also to empathize with those who live perpetually in chaos and have never tasted GTD bliss. :)

The hardest thing about staying organized and sane in times of chaos is to learn how to lower your standards--at least until the pressure's off.

If you let that nasty critical voice in your head get to you, you'll stop doing things because you'll feel overwhelmed and be spending time fighting an internal war. If instead you replace this nasty voice with a kind and compassionate one, you will be nicer to yourself, and find that you get more done too!

Here are 5 things you can do to be easier on yourself:

1. Go delete 10 things from your next actions lists. Many things on our lists were good ideas when we put them on there, but we also weren't burned out and overwhelmed when we came up with those brilliant ideas either.

2. Schedule large blocks of unscheduled time. When you get uber-busy, you need boundaries to keep out intrusive meetings, over-socializing (especially for us introverts), and other busy-ness. I found one week I was working 10+ hours a day and coming home to go out to more meetings. I couldn't necessarily just up and quit the organizations I was a part of, so I blocked out Monday nights for personal time in my calendar, and it's worked great! I don't have meetings every week like that, but this Monday personal time is an important "safety valve" that keeps me from blowing myself out.

3. Give yourself a prescription for fun. My health practitioner asked me how I was doing last week (I said "STRESSED!") and afterwards issued me "a prescription for fun!" At first this was more stressful--"how dare he make me have fun!" But once I got over myself I found some simple ways to enjoy life more.

4. Move! Whether 20 minutes at the gym on the elliptical machine, or taking a yoga class, or going for a slow walk, movement can really help to get you destressed, and faster than you think!

5. Make absolute minimum goals. As David Allen says, you wouldn't be overwhelmed if you just lowered your standards! Make a list called "minimum to survive today" and only write the 1 to 3 things that need to get done today to avoid major catastrophe. Ignore all other lists until these things are done, and celebrate when they are! Plus, the other things probably weren't that important anyway.


Hope that helps! Take care of yourself, and the stuff to do will take care of itself...or at least will be a little easier. :)