SELF-PROMOTION
HOW TO HANDLE A NETWORKING COFFEE DATE?
LISA WEEDA
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So, you're going to have coffee with someone you'd like to collaborate with, or someone who might have a gig for you. Why am I so nervous? Is there something stuck between my teeth? What if I spill my coffee? It can almost feel like a first date. Lisa Weeda made a comparative study of networking dates and romantic dates. Not to stress you out even more, but she suggests that the two have a great deal in common. ‘Before a romantic date, you'll have — even if it's just in your head — some plan or goal: that you'd like to kiss this person, for example. The same way, you might have a plan for a business conversation over coffee. It can be very loosey-goosey, but it's a good idea to have a basic notion of what you want to learn, share, or create with someone. You can do a little Googling in advance, as if you're Facebook stalking your date. You'll have talked to them once or twice, face-to-face or by e-mail, but
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