I noticed a tweet by a 4networking honcho today that stated some new or potential members are put off by the plethora of 'micro-business ' members at the meetings.
Now I would have thought, unless you are already a heavy-weight player (and if so I doubt that they need 4 networking), that many eggs in the basket is better than one...from a business risk point of view.
Back in the 90's when I ran my own support services company, I had around 100 regular contracted clients. Agreed, around six accounted for 60% of my T/O and PTP, and when I lost one big player through a ridiculous quote from a national my T/O dropped by 1.5 million overnight...ouch that hurt a lot. When I sold in 99 I still had many-many small clients all paying from say
Having done plenty of these networking meetings in their various forms, I'm personally no longer a fan of them. Loads seemed to have popped up, and they are a business or franchise business in their own right, as well as your local Chambers events, and daft speed networking nonsense and other such events. For the amount of time you have to invest in attending, coupled with their costs, and the fact you tend to see the same faces, I now prefer the online networking approach. Obvious bias aside, but there are a number of good business forums, most free or minimal cost to join, and you come across a much broader range of people, businesses and services. Plus you pick and choose when you want to participate. Organised business clubs/groups, for me anywhere require too much of a committment compared to any worthwhile return. Some of these face to face groups take on the air of a nuremberg rally with their rules, and punishments if you don't attend x number of meetings etc. Also tend to get "sold at" relentlessley, with no one really listening, just eager to swop biz cards and tell you how fab their service or product is. I did tend to see an abundance of the same industres, normally business coaches/lifestyle coaches and online startups. Bricks and mortar businesses didn't seem to be very well represented, or at least to the ones I went to. Ref micro businesses, I suppose it depends on your services, but even micro businesses still have requirements, so if you can service enough of them at profit, then maybe better than being reliant as you say on that 1 big customer.
I attended my first networking event recently and I could not get my hat off to all the funny hand shakes and stand up sit down business when people were talking. I felt like I was in a 80's style disco. Stavros
“I attended my first networking event recently and I could not get my hat off to all the funny hand shakes and stand up sit down business when people were talking. I felt like I was in a 80's style disco.” Are you certain you hadn't gone to the wrong location? Perhaps it might have been a Masonic meeting  Sounds a bit like it from your description Stavrosbonsai passion
LOL it felt like a cult thats for sure. I wont mention them by name but they are well known Business Networking Institution Stavros |
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