Networking and Oscar Wilde

• Sean Humby (Bristol Business Network)
• Thursday 19 November 2015

The majority of us have a mobile phone; most of them enable you to leave a personal voicemail message that people who call you will get if you are unavailable; but how many of those messages are unique and tell the caller that you do actually reply to your voicemail messages?

That's where my research comes in - I record a new message everyday - stating the day, thanking the caller for calling; explaining when I will call back and finally a fact for the day! Facts are provided by Wikipedia - births, events, observances (i don't do deaths!) and there has never been a day when I haven't found one! I will confess that I do this Monday to Friday but I do know that there are facts that will be there for Saturday's and Sunday's!

And that is why you are now going to see how Oscar Wilde came up with so many networking quotes (perhaps inadvertently as not even Business Network was around in the late 19th century!)

I'll start with the reason I love quotes….these are all from goodreads

"Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit."

― Oscar Wilde

I am sure that you can see the relevance to networking - the preparation, the actual events, the follow up, your conversations……

"Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation, and conversation must have a common basis, and between two people of widely different culture the only common basis possible is the lowest level." If you are going to network then be prepared for a conversation not a sales pitch or elevator pitch; ask questions that are unexpected and get beneath the surface.

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." At an event, before an event, after an event think about what you can do for someone else - introduce them to others, share knowledge, share an opportunity even just get someone a drink or even more radical go and speak to someone who is on their own or even someone you have never met before!

"You can never be overdressed or over educated." You are representing your business/organisation - it is Brand You so how are you coming across?

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." More of Brand You - relax, enjoy, talk about things other than business - let people see the real you not someone who has just swallowed the corporate speak jargon book complete with synonyms, acronyms and the other business B***S***!

"Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes." Share yours, it's not a weakness; in fact it could be the just the thing that starts a really great win/win relationship

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train." Nothing to talk about at a networking event? Your diary, looking back and forward is a great place to start - it's about you, what you do, the businesses that you help, the businesses and organisations that you are looking to help - need I say more?

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go." Guess what you should be working towards!

"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." How can you make yourself and the benefits that you bring memorable? Is it during the conversations that you have or is it the way in which you follow up? You do follow up don't you? Not just with a spammy email or a newsletter with something that shows that you have paid attention and listened.

"I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself." You are an expert in your particular field, you'll know experts in other fields, perhaps you share a common interest - whatever it maybe feel free to share, help, pass on something useful, be a connector. We all know how abundance works don't we? Great paper here by Wendy Jansen and Wilma .van den Heuvel

"A pessimist is somebody who complains about the noise when opportunity knocks." Need I say more!

Feel free to say more, comment, share and add!

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