Don't Show Up...

Don't show up and throw up. This is the advice of Larry Kaufman, the author of The NCG Factor, an excellent book on networking.

Oddly enough, I discovered Larry and his book on one of my favorite podcasts by Bela Gandhi, founder of Smart Dating Academy. Yes, a dating podcast! You will be amazed by how much dating and networking have in common. And, how much you can learn to enjoy both by reading Larry’s book and listening to Bela’s podcast.

I am sure that I have shown up and thrown up in the past—hopefully not as much any more. I hope, and @larrykaufman you can chime in if you’re reading this, that I didn’t show up and throw up when I met Larry for coffee a few months ago.

Larry and Bela give great advice that can be adapted to dating and networking. Bela’s advice is to be with someone who makes you feel good; Larry’s advice for networking is to be more of a connector than a taker.

Both also address how to remove yourself from someone that may not be the one—whether it’s your Lid To Your Pot (a Bela euphemism) or the dreaded Taker. None of these things we learned in school.

I highly recommend that you add Bela’s podcast and Larry’s book to your curiosity reading, so much great information.

And remember: Don’t Show Up and Throw Up! These resources will help you stop.