Having recently spoken to someone who was about to attend their first ever ABN networking event, it got me thinking about my first time and how much has changed since then.
Somewhere around April or May of 2015 I started looking at what options there were for networking in Aberdeen. Having recently stopped working for a pretty demanding client I found myself with time on my hands and wondered what I might be missing out on! A quick Google search led me to the ABN website.
Although I’d started my business in 2010, I had never tried networking up until that point, so it was with a huge amount of nerves that I signed up for my first ever ABN Before Noon Networking event. If I remember rightly, it was at the Atholl Hotel. Knowing me, I probably didn’t sleep well the night before stressing about how to get there and parking etc, and I was so nervous going in – what if everyone already knew each other, what if no one wanted to talk to me or even worse, they did but I didn’t know what to say and I made a fool of myself!
I needn’t have worried. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming and wanted to hear about me and my business. I soon found myself involved in conversations with a wide variety of people, from all sorts of businesses, that I would never have met otherwise. And it couldn’t have been too bad as I kept going back!
Most people are apprehensive about their first networking event, but it’s definitely worth making that leap and going for it. The connections and friendships I’ve made over the years have been invaluable, both personally and professionally. I now have a network of people I can turn to if I need help with something to do with my business, or if I need to run an idea or concern past someone else who’s opinion I trust.
I still have a few nerves before an event, but networking has helped me fine tune my message and definitely increased my confidence. So, take the first step, book onto an event, you never know where it might lead. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be working as ABN Networking Manager if I had decided to stay at home that day!
Do you remember your first time networking, and what has changed for you since then?
Comments
I think the first networking event I attended was one of the Grampian Business Finder events.
Never been to any ABN networking though (apart from Andrew's networking skills workshop back in 2017).
Big challenge for me is that pretty much all my clients are outside Aberdeen (and even the UK) - so in the North East of Scotland I'm probably known more for my book related activities then my software!
And of course the biggest change is that I'm now organising my own (book themed) events!
I can't believe you've never been to an ABN event. You should definitely come along one time.
I'm trying to get into the habit of reading a bit before bed. I'm working through some charity shop books my husband picked up for me at the moment, but maybe I'll read something a bit more educational and come along to your book themed event.