Some lessons learned in the last while:
One: networking doesn’t have to be a big production. I went to a big conference but kept my expectations small. I attended the sessions I was interested in, identified the speakers ahead of time and followed them, or connected with them on LinkedIn. I approached one speaker who I thought it might be good to do some writing for. And wandered around learning and listening. That’s it, and that was enough.
Two: just say yes. At the conference, I was asked to do a video interview. I said yes, and it was fun. A speaker at a webinar I attended said let’s do a coffee date, and I said yes. These are all opportunities that came up as I was doing other things. A year ago I might have said no. Now I just do them.
Three: I’m going to have to invest time in exercise – I hurt my knee and I know I need to work on the sets of muscles that protect a knee.
Four: it’s okay to take a break. I’ve paused my business blog, and it’s been fine. The time to think about things has been really valuable.
Picture: Mine, taken at the Cape Town International Convention Centre
