Whack-A-Mole Networking

Many of us have more than one company, job, interest or venture. We are an entrepreneurial people, there’s no disputing that!!

However, when you try to split your elevator pitch up into several mini pitches, it starts to get a bit of whack-a-mole feel to it. This is because 1. you're trying to hit all the bases in a very short period of time and 2. people trying to refer you to their friends will aim and miss for services you provide.

I'd like to emphasize the importance of limiting your activity in networking to a single job, profession, company, focus, etc.

The main reason for this is that it can get very confusing for your contacts and other members of a networking group to try to remember all the things you do or even any one particular thing you do when they are inundated during your elevator pitch, with all your various activities.

The purpose of networking is to make yourself real and available to others and vice versa. This is not accomplished by rattling off 2, 3, or 6 things you are currently working on. This is accomplished by a steady and intelligible stream of communication moving a single direction for a finite period of time on a regular basis.

If it’s very important to you to have more than one of your companies in a group, see if you can sign up for an additional membership for an second company and get an additional chance to deliver your second pitch. Or better yet, register an employee or partner from your second company with the networking group.

Also, your contacts will feel more confident in sending you referrals if you keep it simple and on point with a single focus. It could cause a lack of faith if you seem to be spread too thin. Your contacts need to know their friends, family, colleagues and clients will be taken care of when they are sent to you.