You’ll Never Have to Go to a Cocktail Party Again

When I think of networking, the visual I see is the banquet room at Maggiano’s in Chicago. The room has a dark look, with wood walls, red patterned carpet, and brass light fixtures throughout. (It’s been more than a year since I stepped into this room, so if my memory is a bit off, please be kind.) I see a series of chandeliers that twinkle over the bars, buffet tables, and the bevy of people chitchatting away.

Does this visual turn you off? Make you want to turn around and run away? You’re not alone. The good news is that you don’t have to go to a “traditional” networking event to network. 

Yumi Matsuo, a successful lifestyle photographer in New York, has built a successful business without attending a single trade show or cocktail party. She has used the power of Instagram to connect and showcase her talent.

Matsuo connects with people she follows, and asks them out for coffee (or virtual coffee). Sometimes she brings a colleague and asks the person that she is meeting to do the same. Think about that: she’s not only met someone new, but she’s also introduced these folks to potentially three new connections. 

The coffee meetup is perfect because there is a clear beginning, middle, and end. The good news is this type of meeting can be done virtually as well!  

Just imagine, if you do one networking coffee a week with three other people, that is 156 potential connections in a year—all done in a low-stress situation. And it only takes a few connections to catapult you to a new job, friend, and/or successful collaboration.