4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events: Step 4

What the partners of Leicestershire based
 Morgan Gleave Art & Design 
have learnt during 12 years of running a small business. 

Unless you already have done so, before reading this article, you may wish to look at

 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3 

Step 4:  Go into Battle – Well, the Opposite to Battle Really...

 (Stop laughing and pulling faces!  We know the analogy has run out of steam, but it was the best we could do.  We are Morgan Gleave Art & Design not Morgan Gleave Write & Publish...)

This is what you want to be like, not a 
great big lump of aggression.

As you leave your car:

• Check your posture - stand tall, shoulders back, tummy in.  Similar, but perhaps not exactly like this gentleman who would probably benefit from a new pair of shoes.

Standing straight, stomach in, shoulders back
and looking confident.

• Relax your face and lick your lips so that you look friendly and are ready to smile.  

• Tell yourself everything is under control and that you look and feel FAB-U-LOUS.

• Think of a person with poise and confidence, E.g. Joanna Lumley, James Bond (without his hands in his pockets!) and imagine that you are that person as you walk in.  (Well, Alan Carr may not be the best choice but if he gives you confidence...)  

You will be a superstar...

Off you go! ENJOY YOURSELF!

Later...






It will go well.  

Nevertheless, you may feel that you have failed, which you probably have not that is common response when if you are unconfident and reflect on something new.  

Remember, this is a learning curve for you.  

If you are struggling with real, or more likely, imaginary failings, do read 5 Steps to Managing Failure in Business - and Elsewhere Too.  

This will help you to get things into perspective and to move on as painlessly as possible.

You may find the following links useful:

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events: Step 1 

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events: Step 2

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 3

• 10 Things Not To Do at a Networking Event 

• 2 Easy Techniques to Calm and Relax You at (Almost) Anywhere and at Anytime.

Do you have any comments?

How about sharing this post?  

Perhaps you would like to subscribe to Morgan Gleave Art & Design's Blog so that you can keep up to date with the bits and bobs we put up.

Morgan Gleave Art & Design is not responsible for the content of external sites

4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events: Step 2

What the partners of Leicestershire based 
Morgan GleaveArt & Design 
have learnt during 12 years of running 
a small business. 

Step 2:  Prepare your weapons!

Unless you already have, you may like to look at 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 1

Your weapons are information and planning. Confidence will grow from knowing that whatever happens, you can deal with it.

You need to spend time looking at every aspect of getting to the event in good time and with everything you may need.

(Yes, Be Prepared', just like a Scout... Do stop singing.  We cannot be doing with Ging Gang Goolieing just now.  No, it is not rude.  It is just a nonsense song.  Now, stop laughing and pull yourself together so that we can get on.)

A)  Plan Travel

• Plan your route

• Check travel details

• Check event time, date, location

• Book bus/train tickets 

• Book taxis

•  Plan leaving time allowing for possible delays.

• Check your car.  Do the usual checks such as tyre tread, oil and so on.  

Ensure that it looks smart and clean.  

Avoid buying petrol en route to an important event.

• Work out where to park...

... especially if you plan to arrive by horse.

B)  Pack your bag in good time

First, declutter your bag.  If you do not need it, leave it at home or in your car boot.

(No, I did not mean that people should put cats in the boots of their cars.  I assumed that the people reading this would have the common sense to realise that...  Well, most people are NOT like you, are they?)

Then ensure that you have everything you need.

Suggested Checklist:

• Event details.

• Keys

• Mobile

• Cash.  Including change for parking 

• Bank cards

• Membership card for AA, RAC or similar.  If you are not a member or a breakdown service and you are given to anxiety, do consider it.  

• Notebook, pen

• Fully charged mobile(s)

• Personal items eg tissues, glasses 

• Business cards.  Keep business cards pristine in a holder, but ensure that you have a few that are easily accessible in your bag or pocket.  You want to be able to produce one quickly and without fuss.

(Well, yes, a good trick if you can pull it off.  It would certainly get you and your business noticed -probably not  a good idea for unconfident people...)


C)  Plan what you are going to say

• Think of some questions to ask other business owners.  Try to make them open questions i.e. questions that cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no' in order to foster conversation.

• Think of a succinct answer when you are asked to explain what your business is.  Do not try to sell, just explain.  Use positive language.

(No, recording it and just playing it back would not give a good impression!)

• Practice introducing yourself.  People want to network at networking events so it is easier to go up to someone and say, 'Hello, I'm Esmeralda Twoshoes' than it is at other social events.  Practice doing it confidently.  Even if you do not feel confident, pretend.  The more you force yourself to do the things a confident person would do, the more confident you will feel.

Finally, just for fun!

“Organising is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up”

A. A. Milne

Click Here for Step 3 which deals with your final preparations.


Related Links:

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 1

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events :  Step 3

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 4

You may also find the following links useful:

• 10 Things Not To Do at a Networking Event 

• 2 Easy Techniques to Calm and Relax You at (Almost) Anywhere and at Anytime.

Do you have any comments?

How about sharing this post?  

Perhaps you would like to subscribe to Morgan Gleave Art & Design's Blog so that you can keep up to date with the bits and bobs we put up.

Morgan Gleave Art & Design is not responsible for the content of external sites

You Want to Start Your Own Business? Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Submit Your Resignation Part Three

What the partners of Leicestershire based Morgan Gleave Art & Design have learnt in 11 years of running a small business. 

If you have not done so already, you may wish to read: You Want to Start Your Own Business? Questions to Ask Yourself BeforeYou Submit Your Resignation Part One and Part Two

Here is the final question you need to consider before committing yourself to starting up own business.

5)  How am I going to fund my start-up business?

• How much funding will I need to start my business?  Starting a business is surprisingly expensive.

• Where can I get funding?  You need to use your research skills for this one.  There are numerous sources of funding for small businesses out there.  The most obvious place to seek funding is a bank but there are other options such as grants.  Alternatively, you may choose to use your savings or redundancy money.

• Do I have sufficient funds to live on for at least the first year of trading?   It has been said that a business takes at least five years to become established.   In the meantime bills have to be paid.

• How will I feel if I cannot afford my present standard of living?  How will my family feel?

Oh, noooooooo! I really want to start my own business but now I am soooooo depressed because I didn’t answer yes to all the questions!  Oh, oh, oh, what am I going to do? Ohhhhhhhhh.

Calm down!  Honestly, that is quite enough of that unseemly racket!  Where do you think you are?  The House of Commons? 

You are a prospective entrepreneur, act like one!

Just because you did not answer yes to everything it does not mean that all is lost. 

If you are still determined to start your own business, the next step is to try to make changes so that you can return to this page and have a column of yeses. 

Finally, as disappointing as it may be, there is no shame in deciding that a particular course of action is not for you just now.

You may wish to subscribe to Morgan Gleave Art and Design's blog.  You will be cross with yourself if you missed something...

You Want to Start Your Own Business? Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Submit Your Resignation Part Two

What the partners of Leicestershire based Morgan Gleave Art & Design have learnt in 11 years of running a small business. 

If you have not done so already, you may wish to read: You Want to Start Your Own Business? Questions to Ask Yourself BeforeYou Submit Your Resignation Part One

3) Am I emotionally equipped to deal with self employment?

• How flexible am I? Are you open to constructive criticism? When someone suggests changing something, do you stubbornly do as you wish or do you stop and seriously consider the suggestion?

• How do I cope with failure? To be blunt:  business is one long round of setbacks and disappointments interspersed with wonderful opportunities and unexpected successes. Will you be able to bounce back again and again and again without getting disheartened?

• Do I enjoy a challenge? 

• Am I sufficiently confident? Have you got the confidence to put yourself and your product/skills out there and risk rejection or negative feedback, to deal with awkward clients/suppliers and to effectively network? 

• How will I deal with the mistakes I make? You will make mistakes. Whoppers.  It is how we learn but when it comes to your first start up, it can be a painful and frequently expensive learning curve. Reading A Useful Little Trick for Managing ‘Bad’ Feelings may be helpful.

• Have I got good interpersonal skills?

4)  Have I got the ability to run a business?

• Have I got research skills?

• Can I write a business plan, a marketing plan and any other bloomin’ plan that comes along? These are essential documents and are quite complex and daunting to begin with. However, there are many sources of help and examples online.  This is one of the best: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/tools-resources/business-tools/business-plans.  (Note that the information on the Princes Trust site is aimed at young people so may have to be adjusted.)  Further, local authorities, banks and other organisations provide help. 

• Am I willing to learn business administration; research skills etc. if I have not already got them?   

Watch this space for the next part of this series: You Want to Start Your Own Business? Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Submit Your Resignation Part Three

You may wish to subscribe to Morgan Gleave Art and Design's blog.  You will be cross with yourself if you missed something...

You Want to Start Your Own Business? Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Submit Your Resignation Part One

What the partners of Leicestershire based Morgan Gleave Art & Design have learnt in 11 years of running a small business.  

 

1) Is my business idea realistic?

• Do you know enough about my chosen area?  Does Ms Arrogant know enough about brain surgery?

• Can you deliver the product/service to a consistently high standard?  Mr Resentful may or may not be able to do this.

• Is you product/service worth selling?  There may not be a market for your product/service.  Do you think that Ms Naïve’s friends are just being kind?

• Do you have a product/service to sell or are you looking for an easier way to earn a living?  Do you really think that being self-employed is easier than getting a job?

• Do you believe in you product/service?  Unless you are a Mr Del-Boy you will not be able to effectively sell something you do not believe in.

Right!   That’s got rid of them!  That leaves us decent folk to carry on to the next question.

2) Do I have the drive to succeed? 

• Am I prepared to work long hours?  Are you too accustomed to working from 9-5 with an hour for lunch plus two coffee breaks a day.  Are you prepared to work from 8 a.m. until silly-o’clock six days a week?  (Lunch break?  Coffee breaks?  Giggle…)

• Can I manage without long holidays?

3)  Am I emotionally equipped to deal with self employment?

• How flexible am I? 

• Am I open to constructive criticism?  When someone suggests changing something, do you stubbornly carry on as before or do you stop and seriously consider the suggestion?

• Can I manage if my family/friends are not supportive?

• How do I cope with failure?  Business is one long round of setbacks and disappointments interspersed with wonderful opportunities and unexpected successes.  Will you be able to bounce back again and again and again without getting disheartened? See you blog, A Useful Little Trick for Managing ‘Bad’ Feelings for a little help with coping with life’s setbacks.    

• Do I enjoy a challenge?

• Have I got good interpersonal skills?

• Have I got enough confidence?  Have you got the confidence to put yourself and your product/skills out there and risk rejection or negative feedback, to deal with awkward clients/suppliers and to effectively network?

• How will I deal with the mistakes I make?  You will make mistakes.  Whoppers.  That is how we learn but when it comes to your first start up, it can be a painful and frequently expensive learning curve.

‘Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm’

Winston Churchill

Clinck on this link to read the next part of this series:  YouWant to Start Your Own Business?  Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Submit Your Resignation Part Two