INTROVERTED NETWORKER

INTROVERTED NETWORKER by: Laron Henderson

Ok, I’m going in! Wait a minute! I can’t do it! Anxiety got a grip! I peek inside As I slowly pull the door handle Feels like it weighs 1,000 tons! Like I need the strength of Incredible Hulk to open

You’ve been through this before You already know what’s in store! Everyone wishing to make a sale Different event, same stale conversation “Who are you, what do you do” “This is who I am and what I do” Listening to each sales pitch, while mine dismissed

You know the one you rehearsed for hours Staring in the reflection in the mirror Practicing your pitch to perfection! These things, always make me so nervous I’m just so introverted How am I’m going to network? They say it determines your net worth! Alas, I just collected another business card Just to rest on my desk, never to be called Why do I keep falling for this? It’s just to hard!

Putting myself through such misery You’ve heard it all before, but maybe, just maybe this one won’t be difficult Maybe it’ll just be a little bit different Get over your sense of fear, you don’t want to keep being stuck for years You want to grow your business, don’t you? Well get out there and give it your best shot!

I know, I’ll just go in and be a wall flower! Na, I can’t do that, I must devour my fear! Who knows, maybe you’ll make a new friend! Get over my past failures! Remember the confidence you had staring in the mirror! Be the reflection of the man you saw! Don’t worry about rejection!

Ok, I’m going in, a 5-minute countdown! Breathing heavily letting out a long sigh Turn this frown upside down!

Go inside with eyes that light up the room Smile just as bright My hands shaking nervously Itching from perspiration Uncontrollably shaking Tip toeing in, one step at a time! Secretly hoping no one notices me!

Smiling on the outside Silently screaming inside “Hi, my name is” As someone approached me I reply the same my name is Laron! Nice to meet you, my eyes rolling inside! Here comes the sales presentation Whispering to myself I go to do mine, but the hesitation is just too great. Then a guy named Chris comes on the mic! “I’m here to help you make a new friend tonight!”

Wow, my nerves turn into excitement! “We not going to talk about business but find out what someone’s interested in!” Geez, that won’t be so hard! “Do it in 5 mins! Go!” This is going better than I hoped! I no longer want to hang myself by a rope! I can actually talk, not make a fool of myself! That helps out a lot! This is a new tool I can use!

Let’s see how this goes Maybe I can meet a new friend or two! Something I’ve never been able to do previously! I made a connection with a guy who’s similar to me! We talked about building gaming PC’s! My expectations are exceeded! I can also make recommendations for his business!

Just by talking about similar interests! This event was heaven-sent! For the first time, I felt alive in my entrepreneurship! Now I see in this networking thing, I can succeed!

Laron Henderson