Every networking organizer has received the same message:
"I'm so sorry...I can't make it tonight." My response is always the same: No apology necessary. Here's why. A networking event isn't a birthday party, a wedding, or a family dinner. You're not attending because the host needs you to show up. You're attending because you might benefit from being there. When you miss a networking event, the person who loses the most is usually...you. Maybe you would have: Met your next client. Connected with a future employer. Found a business partner. Learned an idea that changed your business. Made a friendship that lasted for years. None of those opportunities know your schedule. They simply go to the people who are in the room. As organizers, we love seeing familiar faces and meeting new people. We work hard to create a welcoming environment, but we don't measure our success by whether one specific person attends. We measure success by the connections that happen. So if you can't make an event, don't apologize. Just make a commitment to attend the next one. Because networking isn't about doing the organizer a favor. It's about investing in yourself. Remember this: The opportunities you miss are almost always the ones you never knew were waiting for you.
Start here - http://www.aimcbizsolutions.com/massprofessionalnetworking
