Networking Means Showing Up
Yesterday, I gave a presentation on technology and the lawyer for the Mass. Bar’s Lawyer’s in Transition seminar. It was a very interesting program, designed for people that had been out of the workplace and were looking to get back on the ‘lawyer track’.
Most of the people had been out of the legal field for 2–5 years, some a bit longer. The most common reasons for being out of the work filed were raising children, elder health care or personal health problems. It seemed like half of the people were thinking of going the sole practitioner route.
Being a sole practitioner myself I was very interested in the presentations and learned some new thins.
However, there was something very shocking to me. Every speaker. And I do mean every speaker emphasized networking. They emphasized networking to find a job and talked about how to define your ‘network’, how to tap into your network and how to expand your network.
Personally, I think of the same issues as people I know, talking to people I know and getting to know more people, but I’m a simple person.
Anyways, lots of good advice on networking. In the half day I was at the seminar, I heard 7 presenters (there were a number of panels) push the issue of networking. Networking, networking, networking.
So there’s a networking reception after the seminar with food and drinks to get to know people. What happens? Only 25% of the seminar participants even went!
The first rule of networking? You have to show up. Judge Edward M. Ginsburg and I were discussing that on a break. His comment was “You just have to get out there and you never know what happens. Oftentimes the thing you really expect to happen never does, but some random event changes your life.” Yep. I totally agree.
I agree. Funny how many just didn't get that very basic message. Perhaps the hammer wasn't heavy enough?
How often is it said that much of the "business" we generate is obtained outside the seminar room?
I know at least a handful of attorney that go to one specific seminar solely to meet people, with little or no desire to listen to speakers.
