Stop "networking" just be human!
When you stop "networking" and start talking to people like an actual human being, you'll make great connections
How often have you attended a networking event or conference, and heard people ask “How do I meet the right people?”
Or maybe you've heard someone say something like “I want to make the right connections.”
When people ask, “How do I find the people who are relevant.” I get really annoyed.
It’s a pretty common type of question. A lot of it caused by networking "experts" teaching people to treat networking like some kind of battle plan.
It’s time to get out of that obnoxious mindset.
You’re in a situation with a high capacity for serendipity.
Open yourself up to meeting somebody who might not be obviously “relevant” but could turn out to be the most fascinating person you've ever met - or could be connected to people who ARE relevant to you! You just don't know until you take time to get to know people.
All it takes is one personal connection. One great meeting.
It’s not about the influence someone has; it’s about who they are and what they bring to the table. It doesn't matter what the first chess move is, because that person could facilitate a second, even more powerful move down the line. You could meet your next business partner, an amazing designer, someone with knowledge in a field you need help in. All it takes is one interaction, one meeting, one time when you didn't start by trying to guess how useful someone would be before you talked to them.
The bottom line is this: when you stop networking to get business and start acting like an actual human being, you will win in more ways than you thought possible.
How to go from start-up to chain in three years
How has The Pint Shop created such great success in just three years?
Richard Holmes and Benny Peverelli opened The Pint Shop in Cambridge in November 2013 with £200,000 from investors.
In late 2014 they announced plans to expand into two new locations and raised £600,000 in one day from existing investors.
In January 2015 they approached the hospitality industry for £2 million to fund the expansion plan.
They got what they needed, with offers still coming in, because they could show that they have a formula for generating growth, with revenue to match.
Year one £1.6 m
Year two £1.9 m
Year three £2.3 m
They also won 2 awards - from the Times and the Independent - which they estimate brought in an extra £2,000 a week.
Do Simple Things Well
Pitching to investors to raise the initial cash was a wake up call.
They were told, "What you're proposing isn't different, isn't exciting, isn't special."
They went back to the drawing board and came up with the ideas that have made The Pint Shop unique - and very successful.
British bread, meat and beer are their staple offerings but done with style and in a way that answers the customers needs before all else.
There are several ingredients that are contributing to the success of the Pint Shop, but the main ones are:
- Good planning and forecasting based on solid experience
- Well financed with growth in mind
- Differentiated from the competition
The friends met in 2008 and had each spent 14 years working in the hospitality industry before they decided to start their own business.
They spent a year working on their business plan and raising money for their new venture before they left employment.
When asked how they will maintain the individual character of The Pint Shop Cambridge when they expand to Oxford, London and other locations, Rich and Benny said,
We'll give ownership to the local team, guaranteeing the same quality but allowing each branch of the chain to have its own personality