Tag: networking

There’s a bunch of stuff scheduled for the PASS Summit next week. You can see some of the events on the After Hours page, but there are a few other events happening during the week as well. Most are private, which is fine for the people that get invited, but what about everyone else?

There are well over 1,000 people coming to the Summit, and the majority of them won’t get invited to private vendor parties, or many other events. However outside of the Gameworks party on Thur night, I have a feeling many of them will end up being “that guy”, spending the evenings alone or even working.

Andy Warren and I have started a few events that are relatively open to anyone. We have our Monday Night Networking event, which is full right because of capacity limits. We also started the SQLServerCentral party, which I run and is open if you have a ticket.

However we think you can start your own event. If you want to go see a band in Seattle, then wouldn’t you want to see if anyone else wants to go with you? Maybe share a cab? Perhaps you’re interested in a workout at a local dojo, or you want to attend the Underground Tour (which is very cool).

If you want to do something, and would like to network, have a little company from people that similar interests, we’d like you to do two things:

1. Create an event at EventBrite. It’s free if you aren’t charging. Just tell people what you event will cost and let them pay their own way. Put a limit on the number of guests, if it’s appropriate.
2. Post your event at http://passsummitevents.info/. MVP/MCM Denny Cherry (blog | @mrdenny) has set up the site to track what’s happening at the Summit.

That’s it. Post your event and let people sign up.

If you are looking for something to do, check out the page at http://passsummitevents.info/ and see if there’s something you’re interested in. The site will tweet your event, but feel free to publicize it around.

A week at a conference should be a lot of fun, packed with plenty of events for everyone. I hope we can get people to build their own get togethers, for anything from tasting beer at the Tap House to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory to taking a tour of the Museum of Flight.

Whatever interests you, set something up or look for people that have a similar interest at http://passsummitevents.info/.

The more I learn about building a better career, and the more I talk to people that get new jobs or have success in business, the more I believe that networking is one of the most important things you can do for your career. It just seems to work better, be more reliable, and more effective than any other career improvement strategy. Even blogging, which I think really helps, isn’t as effective as having someone that’s willing to recommend you.

I never really knew how to go about networking, but a few years ago I attended Don Gabor’s seminar at the PASS Summit and it was well worth my money. I learned a lot and have practiced some of his techniques since then. I’ve even purchased a few of his books, which contain even more information on how to better network and work with others.

If you’re attending the 2011 PASS Summit, you can see Don’s Networking to Build Business Contacts seminar on Tuesday, Oct 11, from 3-5pm. It doesn’t interfere with the other pre-cons, and if you’re going to be in town, take this seminar. You will learn some practical tips and exercises you can use to build more contacts, grow your network, and hopefully use it to advance your career at some point. Even if you don’t need a job, at some point you will and the time to build a network is before you need it. If you’ve already registered, call PASS to add this seminar to your registration, or do it on site.

Don has become a friend over the last few years, and was helpful in working on The Mentoring Experiment with me. I find him very insightful and experienced in the world of business and interpersonal interactions and a very interesting person. If you get the chance to sit and talk with Don, take it.