So you took the plunge into entrepreneurship and you're excited to take control of your dreams. You realize that in order to build your business and market your products or services that you should really get out there and meet some new people.
You find a couple of groups or events in your area and have a stack of business cards ready to hand out! The more you think about it, the more intimidating the idea becomes to have to meet strangers and create conversation.
This is all new to you and yeah, you're probably feeling really sick right about now thinking: "how am I going to do this?" The good news is, you are among a huge percentage of people who feel like this, especially those who start to take leaps out of their comfort zone.
Here is a list of top 10 money making tools for the shy networker that I continuously implement on days I am feeling nervous or super introverted out in the field.
(1) Embrace your shyness.
You'll want to take a few deep breaths and accept that you are feeling this way. Any time we do something out of our comfort zone, we will experience different emotions, some that we are not familiar with. This is an opportunity for us to stretch ourselves, to grow, to feel fully alive. Accepting our shyness allows us to move beyond it knowing that it is a part of who we are, but that we have the power to change how we feel at any given moment. Most successful people I've studied were not always the kind of people they are today; bodacious, outspoken, extroverted. Doing what scares us will inevitably shape our character and by doing so, doors open to our greatest aspirations.
(2) Never forget WHY.
There's a reason why you started this venture in the first place. Maybe it was to replace your unappreciative boss, or to express your creativity and talent, or to earn an additional income for your family. Whatever it is that drew you to start a new business must never be forgotten. Take some time now to get clear on Your Why. Once the goal is vivid and colourful in your mind, put it on paper and place it somewhere that you are reminded of daily. Realizing why you would even consider building your network, will give you the push and courage you need to break free from your shyness. You will start to tell yourself that, "if it means making new friends and shaking hands with strangers to (insert YOUR WHY here), I'm up for it!" Not only will the feeling of shyness dissipate, you might even start to get excited.
(3) Remember, you're worth it!
No matter how small or big your dream, you have to believe that you are worthy of it. Success is available to any one person that is willing to work hard, develop new skills and step into fear. Any time I wasn't feeling "myself" or came face-to-face with a challenge, I stopped and asked myself, "Do I deserve to be my own Boss? Do I deserve this kind of freedom?" The answer was always YES. And then I got to working. Our fears should never be bigger than our dreams. By breaking out of our shells and finding peace with our discomfort, our fears start to shrink and our confidence slowly grows. After all, or mind is a muscle and if we continue to push the boundaries, with words like "I'm worth it" whispering in our hearts, anything is possible!
(4) Nobody is judging you.
This one was a big one for me to learn and accept. Sometimes when we are focused too much on what people think or how others will react, we become closed off and almost crippled from taking steps forward. Our self-talk can lead from one extreme to another and soon you might find yourself not only feeling shy about meeting new people, but that the shyness may now have transformed into paranoia. The fact is, nobody cares! When we are in a room full of other go-getters, chances are high that everyone is there to make connections and hand-out business cards. Shake off any judgements you have of yourself and let go of any expectations. Nobody is judging you, but you!
(5) Prepare a 30-second elevator speech.
Sometimes feeling shy comes from not being prepared when you walk into the room. Take the time to craft your elevator speech so that when somebody asks you "what you do," you know what to say. It can be as simple as, "Your Name, Company Name, What you do, and How you help people."
Example: "Hi, my name is Kate. My business is Kate Marketing Solutions. I help small business owners leverage social media in a very savvy and unique way."
Crafting your elevator speech will help you feel confident and excited about your business!
Photo Credit: Rachel Rouhana
(6) Have a stack of business cards ready to hand-out.
Part of being prepared means leaving home with some business cards to hand-out. Business cards are a great tool to have at-hand because it creates conversation. Sometimes being shy comes from awkward moments that you would rather not have. Sharing your business cards is a great ice breaker and allows you to create conversation especially if there is an exchange taking place. Sometimes adding a tag-line or a professional photo of yourself to your business card will help you be more memorable! If we are going to squash shyness, we may as well be bold!
(7) Shake hands firmly and BE CURIOUS about them first.
A great way to introduce yourself is usually with a firm handshake. Practice with your friend, spouse, mother/father beforehand and over time, you will find something that feels comfortable and works for you. The right firmness will exude confidence; and everyone wants to do business with someone who is confident.
Next, show interest in them, FIRST. Not only will you ease comfortably in the conversation by having them do most of the talking, you will notice that your feeling shy is no longer an issue. Some people assume that they have to go out there, shake hands and talk for 10 minutes straight, which can be intimidating and nerve-wracking. The good news is, it is actually more powerful to lead a conversation by showing interest in the other person. Inevitably, they will show genuine interest in you and when they do, simply give them your elevator speech!
(8)Perfection is pointless.
You'll be relieved to know that you don't need to be perfect at meeting new people to generate potential business. Some of my best connections are with people who were perfectly imperfect. Stumbled on your elevator speech? (Remember, who cares?) Laugh it off, reframe your words and smile! Take the pressure off yourself and strive for connection, not perfection.
(9) Action kills overthinking.
This one has been a Lifesaver for me. Any time I am stuck in my head and my stomach starts to do cartwheels, I turn to the person beside me and start talking. Ah, yes, this feels much better. Overthinking about (anything) our fears, get us nowhere, except in a dark hole. I found that jumping head first into a conversation automatically eliminated any negative thoughts I was having. What a relief! Keep it moving.
(10) Have fun out there!
You'll be surprised at what happens when you set your intentions to simply HAVE FUN and make new friends when you are out there! Growing your business should never be a burden and as time passes and you continue to pursue the uncomfortable, you will start to have fun with being ambitious. You will come across people who will support your business, love your product/service, and fall in love with... you. Always remember to smile that golden smile because the world awaits you!
I encourage you to carry this mentality, especially when you're feeling overwhelmed about meeting new people. Pack the list away in your tool box and any time you start to feel nervous or closed off, whip out your tools and change your game. You know you got this!
My name is Genicca Whitney and I am on a mission to empower your wildest dreams into inspired action. If you are prepared to fire up your passion for success and looking for juicy + soulful tools that will magnify your desires, make sure to visit www.genicca.com!
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