NETWORKING
WITH
PARITOSH PATHAK
Episode 6 : Networking at events and conferences
At networking at events and conferences. The inspiration for this podcast comes from one very valuable event that happened for us. We were recently commissioned to do the networking strategy, created a networking experience for the G 20 Summit, the Y EA Summit that happened in New Delhi 14 July, right? To help people network better, people who are coming from different countries. We created a small audio course for them to listen to before coming to the conference so that they could get more value out of it. And that is the inspiration behind this podcast today, that course. Okay, now if you're watching this particular podcast, that means networking is of interest to you. If you're watching this particular podcast, then probably it means networking at events and conferences of interest to you.
And if that is, this is going to be something extremely valuable. Before we jump in, I want to bring in a distinction. This podcast is not about networking platforms. Some of this may overlap, but it's not particularly about networking platforms. Platforms like B I or Ty or PhD. We'll do a separate podcast for that. This is particularly for those events and conferences that you just go and attend, maybe annual conferences happening somewhere within your city, outside of your city, outside of your country. You're going there, you're going to meet a bunch of people that you did not know from before. You want to network with them. You probably want to expand your business into a different country. That's why you're going and attending a conference, an exhibition, something like that. So this is particularly for that.
Okay, now if attending networking events and conferences is of value to you, if that is what you want to do better at getting more results from, then this is going to be pretty interesting. Now let's look at the current reality. It's quite highly likely. Kiap networking events, you go to events, you meet people there and then nothing much follows through. How much value you're able to drive from the conference altogether is, again, a questionable thing. A lot of people are not able to drive that value. Zada kushni karthi miltech cards exchange hotehe. And then when they come back, they just get busy with other things. Does this happen to you? Just ask yourself, okay, and today we want to change that in order to succeed at events and conferences. Succeed at networking at events and conferences.
This is what you got to do in your mind. You got to or on the paper. Even better, if you can do it on paper. Divide the networking plan into three parts before, during, and after. Yeah, a lot of people register and show up. That's it. And once they show up, they're like, okay, Agay, now what do we do? Abkhana doesn't do that. If you do that, stop doing that. It's so easy to really network at these events and conferences. And what you do is you divide it into before, during, and after. Now before, what you gotta do is first of all, define what does success mean to you? Okay? You are probably going there to create new business opportunities. That's good. Okay. Write that on a piece of paper. But keep in mind that you're not getting business at the conference.
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You may get the right contacts and connections. Then you have to be very specific about Apka's conference pick goal hair care. What is it that you want to create from here? Right? It's unlikely that people are going to cut their check at the conference and give it to you. That is the meaning of business though. Upque. Exactly. Define Karnaki Agarapkova check name. Eleven. Do you want to get some demo bookings for your product? Do you want to have some conversations? A later appointment? Exactly. What is that you're looking for? Yes. Subsequent. Define kara. Bahadzarudi Hotai. But then don't make the mistake of just leaving it to this. Okay? What you gotta do is you also have to add relationships to your goal. Right?
You're going to meet a lot of people at events and conferences who may fit your target audience segment but may not be ready to buy from you today. And if you do not bring those relationships back with you're missing out a lot of value. Or there are other types of relationships. Some people who inspire you, some interesting people that you've met, probably a couple of friends that you made. Okay? So a good plan will have both the tangible or so to say, the intangible or the transactional and relational goals combined. Set both of them. Okay? That's number one before. In the part before, you also got to work on your mindset. Far too many people it's unfortunate that far too many people today are going to these events and conferences thinking they're going to meet someone.
They're going to give them the card, an introduction, and see if the other person is interested in buying what they're selling. And if they are, they're going to carry on the conversation. If they're not, they're just out of courtesy. Take the card or agachalayangay. Networking is about relationships. I know Apna pellis in awe, but kitna Samja where Mujani patha? I hope for apnea, Samjai. But networking is about relationships. When people feel that you care about them, not care as if you want to become best friends or do business partnership, et cetera, just care about them as a human being. The bare minimum. Which means you don't just see the person in front of you as a prospect, as just a checkbook. You see the person as a person. Right?
When people get to sense that you're the kind of person who cares and is not just transactional in nature, the probability of you making the sale actually increases. This is how we human beings are designed. We are biased towards people we like. Build that mindset that every person that you would meet at the conference, you're going to take one of the two things away. One, if there is a business opportunity, you take that away. But if not, at least relationships. Now, I'm not saying kia karna, hi karna harkisikasat relationship banana. If there's someone just Kasalka value system matchna, perhaps not. Or if someone who's not interested in you, perhaps not, but unsapkoharta they were 2030, 40, 50% only. But there'll be 50% of other people. Ginke SAR there'll be other opportunities.
So when you come into this mindset that I don't just want transactions, I am looking for them, I do want them, but don't just want transactions. And I'm also open to building relationships. Probably finding some mentors, getting some learning, giving, mentoring, giving some learning, adding value in the life of people. How you approach people when you come in this mindset, how you approach people changes, right? People can sense mapney trainings manekbath bahar barbal tongue Subko Subka such dikta hay everyone can see everyone's truth. So if you're out there giving cards, collecting cards, hoping just to catch a fish, people can tell. And you know how many times people have? Countless number of times. People have come to me and said, Paritoshh, we go to the events and conference. People say, yes, here's a card. Send us an email, give us a call.
And then we give them a call once. Then they stop responding. Yes, they do. And they're right. They're well within their right to do that. You may feel offended listening to this, but you need to. If you're only going to see them as prospects, if you're not going to care about the journey, if you're not going to care about the goals, their challenges, their pain to unka hakhe apko. Ignore karna. Apka hake unko ignore karna. Joseph businesses are built on value exchange. It is not built for one way traffic, but simple science. Okay, so this mindset mayajo that you want tangible gain from a networking event and also you want relationships. Okay? Then of course there are basics like studying the agenda. If there's an influencer you want to meet, study about them, get to know the influencer.
One of the podcasts we'll do will also be on how to network with influencers and VIPs. We'll do that. Okay, so a couple of things. Number one, define what success means to you. Define what success means to you. Number one. Two, build a mindset. Then three, study and prepare. Okay, this is the before part. Let's come to the during part. Now during number one, don't be the joke about this. I say card dispensing machine vologana joke card and guy live it up at its start of the hi, my name is Pratosh Parakama strategic networking Coach help business owners crit break through results with the power of strategic networking. My journey started like this. This is what inspired me, this is what we do. How many? Kasat kamk. Don't do that. Don't do that.
You start conversations by approaching people and talking to them about them. Vocon hair. Vocate hair. What inspires them? What motivates them? How long they've been in the business. On K challenges kiahevo kistarika logan business karnachari success mante failure kahe hosaktawal Sabhana pushpa jopur when you take interest in the person, when you start a conversation, it creates a phenomenon here called likability, right? Apkot socha sam one is coming, giving you a card, giving the elevator pitch. And if you're not a prospect for them, just ignoring you and moving away and someone who's not even giving their cut to you, having a real conversation with you, which one would you lean towards? Obviously hell. So iskona ego shubanalo life makojaga ego honey bhajaga nay honichaye but kojagay honichaye or yaha IGO on each other. Okay, so how does that happen?
Number one, you approach people, you take interest in them. Okay? When someone is talking to you about your tori dermap Murke you'll also start wondering, yeah, nice guy, nice person, nice girl. What did they do? And when you start wondering, you'll ask, right? And when you'll ask, it's very interesting. Jab Kisisunka introduction mangogena you will receive it. 80% more upkeep barriers, 80% down. Hungar you'll remember it. 80% more. So kitney baruta app evans conference collect. Those were the conversations. Japikoi value nahithion may you don't remember apka yebini pathan cardskakana and cardski bhatkaranto. Very valuable. One more very valuable. Important thing. Cards. Pena notes. Banana shukalo. Let me show you. I recently went to conference in Kolkata. And these are some of my cards, right? Card here. And I made this note here, right? And then notes here. And then sorry. Notes here.
Sorry, that one fell. Okay. There's a note here and then there is notes here. It's very important that you make notes either on cards or on your phone book. Whatever form works, right? Nathan Bahat sari conversation sabki badme chute jangi in a rapid fire for Matt Jabaplogunsa network. It's very difficult for even a person with a good memory to remember all of those. So take notes. My style is to take on the cards. I ask for permission and then I write SNE likna. It's considered rude, right? Some people make it on phone. That's either ways works. Okay? So before MAPNA mindset build earlier that you're coming for relationships during May, you're approaching people, talking to them about them, right? Keeping your introductions in your pocket, giving them when people ask for don't give stuff for free. People don't value it. Okay?
You're taking interest in the life of people. If you can add value in the life on Kilikaro kisi Kane and I know apka fear IGA bolagama jantani kesekanikarado pot simple. I pick up the phone, the person that you're calling and say, hey, you know what? Let's say you're calling me and you say, hey, I'm at this conference I just met this person and I thought this person could be of interest to you. Now, I've not worked with him before Paretosh but seems like someone who can add value. Would you want to meet him once? And so you're giving a clear introduction. You don't know this person from before and now it's on me whether I want to connect. If I say yes, you give me the phone, we talk and then we carry it forward from there.
I just did this while coming back from Kolkata. I did this at the airport. I went to the airport. I saw one gentleman. I've met him before in Chalikar sitting and we started talking and what he did in my mind went, okay, he does this. There's someone else who could need that. And I got them connected and I said, you know what? I know this person from before. I've not done work with him, but this is what he does. Would you be interested? And they had a conversation. Add value, right? But just be there, relax, be yourself. Don't come under pressure. Kikoi kesey Network karaapko kese Karnai you have to figure out what style of networking works for you and become really good at that.
So before ogia during oga now let's come to after subsequent cheese guys yena hamesha the hondrakna success in networking comes from what you do after conference payaki network karna bohat asana mujapata dunyakolakta it's very scary. Very can be painful sometimes. But what jitnabiyana bohat asan hair but your real success atihevo atihe from what you do after. So apko starting say before say tayari karnihe after kosahitarikes now ideally kahanachi if you have a multiple day conference jin logos have day One PE malayhonko day One k and pick simple gratitude message. Email chalajanachiya that let's say you met me and I receive a message saying hey Parathosh, great to have met you today. Love that we spoke about this. Love what you're doing right? And looking forward to connecting with you. Agar menapco bola bihemiko Proposal day One pay not don't really talk about it.
It's okay because abhi may conference my busy home. Day Two hair med day 2 may be busy hunga so it'll take some time for me to be able to go through your proposal. Agarapmeko even if you send me a proposal in my inbox, it'll keep going down every day. It'll take me two, three days to get to it. So don't really do it unless I've said ajikaro. Okay? So following up do in two parts. Number one, simple gratitude message acknowledging the conversation you've had with the person. Okay, very simple. And part two, jin logon kesatapki business opportunity kibatuye once a follow up reach out, make it a priority. Igdin dodin kale nahi chorana don't leave it for later. Because you leave it for one or two days, it'll just keep getting left more and more.
And after a few days, you'll be like a lot of time has gone by. There's no point reaching out. Malcolm woman and all those stories will start to come in. Okay, let's summarize. Events conferences is a very important strategy. You need to be attending as many as you can. They serve a great business objective. Then, in order to win at that, divide it into three parts. Before, during and after. Before May. Define your goal. Kiapka. Exactly. Goal Kiahe. Mindset build. Karo. Samjo. Kivah. Transaction scaling asiana. It's okay for you to go for transactions. No problem. But safe transactions scaling Asana. A little bit of relationships will also come in. Study the events, study the speakers, et cetera. Get to know them so that it becomes easier for you to get value out of that. During May. Don't be a card dispensing machine.
Don't do that, okay? Take interest in people. Add value in their life. Take notes on the cards network. Right? Approach People. Start conversations with them. About them, not about you. And most important, when you come back from a conference, take action. Don't leave it for later. It gets left for one or two days. It just gets left. Even today. If I don't take action on the same day, a lot of value gets missed out. And I end up realizing later, oh, my God, I've made this mistake. So stop making this mistake. Reach out to people. Day One. Just a thank you note. And they're on the follow ups for the opportunities that have come up. All right. Cool. If you're not yet subscribed to my channel, please do that.
If you're watching this on YouTube, if you're watching somewhere else, then you follow whatever right? But more importantly, please leave your thoughts on this. What did you think? Was there a particular message here that resonated with you? What is that one thing that you're taking away from today? I look forward to hearing from you. And yes, of course. Please tell me if there are other topics you would want for me to publish a podcast on. I look forward to that. All right. Take care, guys. Happy Networking. See Ya.