Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/918051
24 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8
When most people go to a networking
event or are in a networking situation,
they concentrate on how to get business
from it. Or worry about doing it wrong.
When you flip your focus to helping others,
everything changes. Think about making
connections that will benefit others. Who
can you introduce to start a valuable
business relationship? Who needs to meet
your CPA? Your baker? Your chiropractor?
Your goat's milk soap maker? Take some
pressure off yourself and don't worry about
getting business from networking. That
may sound dumb, because what's the point
of networking if you don't get business from
it, right?
Here's the thing: the more you help
other people, the more you will benefit.
There's a reason Business Network
International (BNI; the largest networking
organization in the world) coined the phrase
"givers gain." The more you give, the more
you get in return.
KEEP YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH SIMPLE
People get hung up on the perfect elevator
pitch. They want to say something like,
"I'm Mary! I'm a massage therapist
who helps people feel better and lower
stress. I typically work with athletes,
busy professionals, and new moms."
24 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8
BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS
best practices
Root Canal or Networking?
Making the Unnatural Natural
By Allissa Haines
You open the front door and look
around. There it is, in all its terrifying
glory: a networking event. People
everywhere. Chatting. Exchanging
business cards. Smiling. Laughing.
Acting curious about each other's
businesses. Drinking coffee. You feel
like throwing up but you square your
shoulders, clutch your business card
holder, recite your elevator pitch, and
walk up to the check-in table.
Does this scenario strike fear into your
heart? Welcome to the club. You're just like
93 percent of massage therapists (that's a
likely true, but made-up statistic) who would
rather endure a root canal than a networking
event.
To many of us, networking feels pushy
and salesy. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Really. Networking can be natural, easy, and
even