Real Life Business Networking – How much do you do?

Hello All,

Most of us spend a lot of time business networking in cyberspace on forums and with social media like facebook, twitter, linked-in and various other online networking platforms, but I wondered how much ‘real life’ business networking you do?

By real life business networking I mean exhibitions, conferences, seminars, training, benchmarking visits with other companies perhaps within your own business group or outside to other businesses and that could be inside or outside your industry sector. It may also include activities as a member of a professional body or institute.

I would be interested to know where you been recently and what plans you have this year?

Regards,
Simon

Hello All,

Most of us spend a lot of time business networking in cyberspace on forums and with social media like facebook, twitter, linked-in and various other online networking platforms, but I wondered how much ‘real life’ business networking you do?

By real life business networking I mean exhibitions, conferences, seminars, training, benchmarking visits with other companies perhaps within your own business group or outside to other businesses and that could be inside or outside your industry sector. It may also include activities as a member of a professional body or institute.

I would be interested to know where you been recently and what plans you have this year?

Regards,
Simon

I've spent a number of years in Industry, where I've worked from some very large multi site companies, both at a site level and at group level.During this time I've made many contacts. Both with people who are in technical positions, or with operational people and also with contractors / suppliers.

The joke is, where I am now, is that I always know somebody. For instance Tony C and I know a lot of people who are common to us both. Chances are, I actually might have met Tony in the past!! In fact today we have had a Moody engineer on site who I worked with 2 years ago on a project at a different company!

I have contractors such as our chemical supplier, lab consumables and pest control who have done work with me in the past. I know them and I trust the job that they do. In fact I have one supplier who refers people to me, and we are currently running a point scoring (favour) system! I'm sure i'll eventually get paid for offering advice with an IBC of Caustic!!
People that I have worked with in the past will still ring me up and ask me if I know or have something, especially relating to BRC (apparently I'm the queen of risk assessments) and if they've had an audit, we compare non-conformances! I'm not precious about my paperwork, or spending 5 minutes talking to someone who may have a problem to try and help them. and i find out what other people are up to.

I still actively network. I go to exhibitions, and seminars. in fact I was recently a guest speaker on rapid microbiological methods at CCFRA. I go to suppliers to do audits, I audit co-packers, service providers etc. I love training....my motto is "you have to look at the next job!", and i'm sure i'll be able to squeeze some training in this year.

(Luckily) in Wales, Food Industries are few and far between. WAG and UWIC often run seminars and I try to attend them where possible. It's a great way for networking with people within the Principality

I also use Facebook!! I would say that the majority of the people i have as friends i have either worked with in the past or was at Uni with.

And i also use IFSQN ;o)

Caz x

Well take this week for example

Monday - piano and swimming lessons.
Tuesday - start of run of 3 nights of child 2's school play - me doing tuck shop.
Wednesday night - as well as child 2's school play - child 1's spring concert.
Friday night - child 3's rainbows easter party.

Then they finish school for two weeks on Friday so me babysitting.

Get the picture - only networking I do and I am so grateful for it is IFSQN.

Rosie.

Thanks for the input Rosie and Caz. I personally don't do as much 'real life' networking as I used to and would like to, what with running this place and having a family with three young children. My resolve is get to some exhibitions and perhaps look to do some further education this year. I'm thinking of six sigma black belt or MSC in Lean. I'd like to have an IFSQN seminar / exhibition one day.

Regards,
Simon

I'd like to have an IFSQN seminar / exhibition one day.

This is interesting. Would this be on-line?

I really interest to IFSQN.. that many helping people in this site that help me to solve my problem in real industry.. so ihope i can get business networking and i am sure that help me if some day i goin to somewhere...

and for seminar or exhibition.. i hope Simon can realize imediatelly...

Rgds from Indonesia

AS Nur

I went to the GFSI meeting in DC in Feb and I may head up to the Food Safety Summit also in Washington DC) in April. It gets expensive, but as a consultant, I have to stay current, I have to network and get out as often as I can.

This is interesting. Would this be on-line?

That was my initial thoguht Jean, but I have since spoken to some very big people who deal with this area and even in today's high tech world they believe face-to-face is still the best for touching and feeling and experiencing.

I really interest to IFSQN.. that many helping people in this site that help me to solve my problem in real industry.. so ihope i can get business networking and i am sure that help me if some day i goin to somewhere...

and for seminar or exhibition.. i hope Simon can realize imediatelly...

Rgds from Indonesia

AS Nur

Maybe not immediately but there is a plan AS Nur.

I went to the GFSI meeting in DC in Feb and I may head up to the Food Safety Summit also in Washington DC) in April. It gets expensive, but as a consultant, I have to stay current, I have to network and get out as often as I can.

Yes I can see it's really important for you to be up to date Cathy. Do you think they offer value for money?

I just missed Foodex in the UK, but I got the 'heads up' from a few friends who were visiting or exhibiting and it was a really good worthwhile exhibition. I'm a member of IOSH (Health & Safety) and I also missed their conference and expo last week. Some are expensive but also some are free, either way I need to get out more.

Regards,
Simon

As for business networking:

Actively participation in Gulfood 2010 in Dubai February 21 - 24
Actively participation in Middle East Food Abu Dhabi April 26 - 28

Active user of IFSQN since last year (june 09) - network growing - more than 185 posts
Active user of LinkedIn since last year (oct. 09) - fastest growing network - more than 300 connections till date
Active user of slideshare since August 2007 - network growing - 205 followers and friends in touch

and at last

User of facebook - mostly slideshare contacts in facebook