Walk slowly through the crowd...

And smell the roses!

In a networking meeting I attended last Friday, I was conscious to speak to as many people as possible.

This would require me to pace-down a notch my current habit of doing things too fast. I also have to use smart discretion where necessary.

Example was, a guest was stuck in traffic and hence arrived a few minutes later than scheduled. We could have started and then let her in anyway when she eventually arrived, but then I decided to give it a few minutes. Even as she arrived via the elevator to the 22nd floor of the building where the event was held, her first order of business was to visit the ladies. Understandably so. So there was another few minutes taken there.

On top of it, the person who invited this guest was also becoming nervous by the minutes, constantly on the phone with the guest, presumably trying to hurry her up.

Still I said to the Chair Person, let's give her (the guest) time and space to come in, sign-in, and catch her breathe.

Aren't we glad we did. You see the smallest things makes the biggest difference.

This guest came in calm, and more importantly the person who invited her, was now happy, smiling and so energized. That was the key to the next sequence of events.

While the Visitor Hosts were hosting this guest well throughout the meeting, I had an opportunity to spend a few moments with the person who invited her, Moon is her name. And a lovely person she is when you get to meet and know her.

We had a conversation about how successfully she invites guests to visit the group and learnt some of her goals.

As a result, we determined that she should share her experience with the rest her colleagues, on her visitor goals and technique of invitation and follow-through.

Yes, you guessed it right: she was further energized by this empowerment and on Saturday (the day after the meeting) even sent me a text message saying that the guest that she invited on Friday, would visit us again and this time with her father, who could possibly be a contact I am looking for to grow my business in the coming future.

So, I learnt or shall I say, I re-learnt a distinction: that always walk slowly through the crowd and pace-down at times. Then most defining moments in our lives will happen during the slowest moments where time stands still. A fine networking skill horned.

Have you had that moment? Well, I know I will from now on: I will walk slowly through the crowd, and even stop at times to smell the roses.