So why did I talk about lunch and leadership previously? Because they are closely related.
I was talking with a sales candidate. He said, “I’ve had lunch with every important banking executive in Manhattan. Not the presidents, but the guys who can get me in to see the president, CIO, CFO, Chairman or whoever I need to see. They all remember me and will help me.” That is the ultimate example of power networking.
Why lunch? At the upper levels it is not a time to eat, it is a time to meet people. Many big law firms and accounting companies all but require senior partners to have power lunches. Stop having networking lunches and you will stop progressing in their world.
Here’s what you do. Starting small or big doesn’t matter. Invite someone to lunch. You pay. Take them someplace you can afford. Tell them where you are going, don’t ask them. Taco Bell will do.
What if they say, “No?” They probably will. But they will see that you want to get to know them. Ask 3 people and one will say yes. The other two will make vague promises about lunching together some other time. All 3 will notice you and mark you as a person they need to get to know.
Beware! One or two may invite you to come and meet with them in their office for a few minutes. This is their way of telling you, “Let’s network, I don’t have time for a full lunch right now.” That’s good. Just remember what to talk about and what to avoid.
Tomorrow I’ll tell you what to do and not do at a lunch or one of these office meetings.
90% of opportunity is seized, and 10% is granted, but I could get fired!!! And a meteorite could hit you and kill you too. Carpe diem!
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Something To Do Today
Make a list of 10 people you should network with. Tomorrow you’ll invite 3 to lunch.
For a few days:
How to network at the top.
Creating networks