network more with people

I’ve kept my distance from FaceBook and Myspace network sites- intentionally, but im starting to think in order to network properly and really meet amazing randoms, and oddball creatives I should probably join. The likelyhood of meeting these people at work or just around is very slim. Hmm.

I am volunteer working for my sons former school ‘Holiday Club,’ this week, run by the local vicar and, natch we are doing ‘The Garden Of Eden’ out of waste materials. I am in charge of a small group 4-11 year olds. The conversation goes thus.

Me: In the story of ‘The Garden Of Eden’ who lived there and what were their names?

(Kids think ponderous and long)

11 year old: Adam and Eve

Me: Well done. Can any of the rest of you remember what else was in the Garden?

5 year old: Apples!!!!

7 year old: Oooh and a snake!!!

Me: So where do apples come from?

(Collective chorus of supermarket/canteen/fruitbowl)

Group: A tree

Me: Correct, so we had better make an apple tree

7 year old: Why was the snake there?

Me: (leaving out comparative religion stuff) In the story of ‘Garden Of Eden’ the snake told Eve to eat the apple even though God told her not to

5 year old: Snakes cant talk

Me: (inner sigh…I know, buddy) Well THIS one could…

7 year old: Was it a magic snake?

Me: No…

7 year old: How did it ‘work’ then?

(dispels inner snake/puppet scenario from head)

Then – piece de resistance….

5 years old: Did it have ‘batteries’ or ‘plug in…....?’

(me – exit stage left, laughing)

I’ve always had a really bad association with networking=schmoozing/getting people to do what you want and then dropping them like hot potatoes when they’ve outlived their usefulness.

Goodness, that was long. I’m shy/introverted, so this isn’t easy for me. I’m trying to gather up the courage to be more open in what I want to be and do (although I still like my slightly mysterious/hard to read facade sometimes…it’s handy!)

Want to network?

I had a week off (long story – work for hubby, hes in London and therefore I have no paperwork to do etc), so I joined in with my sons film project. Now a lot of teens feel uncomfortable about their old biddy doing the scene painting etc but Spike was up for it. Mostly because he is used to me being a Teaching Assistant in his previous school and most of that school is now at senior – therefore I am a familiar face.

We had to erect an X factor desk with the pre-requisite names on the front, but the kids were dressed as monsters (irony NOT lost there). Excellent fun had by all and at the end of the editing, it will be screened at our local cinema alongside the regular film :-)

Mostly because I am quite shy but over the past few years, I have come out of my shell and lightened up a huge amount. I used to be very much a person who wouldnt talk to anyone and used to just talk in ‘yes/no’ terms.

I have improved a LOT since then and I have started it as a New Years Resolution already – chatting to super market girls, who are quite up for a 30 second chinwag or longer.

I want to network with more like minded peers, hang out with interesting and cool people. Multiply my inputs. I am keen to experiment with social networking sites, like this one, and see what happens. Not just for the novelty’s sake, but to see if they really can change my life.

Just tapped into people that I already knew and it was as easy as that…

I went to a party with Joe last Friday. I met a few good people, well only like 6 that I actually talked to at the party

-Bonnie (Johnny’s girlfriend)
-Disco Dave (I’ve known pf him forever, so meeting him was nice)
-Candice (Dave’s girlfriend)
-Pops (TC Rob’s dad LOL)
-Heather (A really sweet, really drunk woman)
-Dann (Funny guy with a weird face)

I also talked to the party host a lot, he was a fun entertaining guy with a good smile, and a knack for conversation. I wish I could remember his name.

Sunday The 15th I went to an Alliance show with Bryan

He’s terrible at introducing me to people, and I’m too shy to introduce myself sometimes.

I met 4 good people though.
-Alyssa (a 6 year old girl who was really brave)
-Jennifer (The wife of the guitarist)
-Will (Guitarist for the Alliance)
-Their son, (again I forgot a name I have to stop doing that, he was about 7, and Alyssa’s boyfriend.)

I was especially proud of this, because I made these 4connections entirely on my own. No one I was with knew these people

Just joined Linkedin.com hoping to find more connections.