I have a bee in my bonnet.

I don’t know whether anyone will take notice of me, but my role in life includes helping the helpers behind the scenes. One of the ways I can be useful is at a conference or gathering. 

In the old days, before the internet, lecturers were sought out to enlighten the masses. They were delivering new information that many had not heard before.  Now we all have access to first class lectures about any subject given by the world’s top speakers all courtesy of YouTube or Rumble.

Organizers have not woken up to the fact that the audience are very savvy and many are fully aware what is going on. I think that attempts to give a one size all talk ends in failure because those who know something about the subject have heard it all before and those who are completely new to the subjects are somewhat out of their depth.

My main point is that the audience wants to spend less time listening and more time conversing with each other. I think you could have at a day conference consisting of one starter talk to crank up the engine so to speak followed by coffee breaks and meeting in small groups and that would more than fill the morning and then you could do the same thing in the afternoon and I reckon there would be much more good interaction.

I am no longer impressed by people who say that it was a wonderful conference and my goodness the speakers were so interesting and I met one or two nice people. I say, so what? How does this lead to personal growth?

Yes we may have 10 to 15 minutes interesting conversation but it is all too easily interrupted by the next lecture or presentation and you don’t get a chance to deal with the matter in hand in depth. This is where English standoffishness acts as a disadvantage.

When we speak to someone for say 10 or 15 minutes we know that we are on the same wavelength. Surely the instinct should be to say, ‘let’s have a chat at another time by phone or Zoom’.

The Englishness in us would have us feel that we are being too pushy or premature when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. People would be delighted to carry on the conversation, especially those who in the normal course of their life do not have regular contacts with people on the same wavelength but here we come to the big problem.

Business Cards

I say to someone I have talked to, let’s have a chat, have you got a mobile number or have you got a business card? And this is where the chaos starts. I cringe when people say,

‘I don’t have a business card’
‘I gave my last one away’
‘let me see if I can find something with my number on’

and finally there reduced to saying in a rather amateurish way

‘have you got a pen or have you got a notebook and I will write my mobile number on it.’

You later find someone’s email address which you can scarcely read because it was written in a hurry, and you have no clue who they are. I cannot describe in  words what a bad impression is given by this fumbling around of the professionalism or lack of professionalism of someone. 

Even people who run their own businesses often don’t have a card. You need to present yourself to the world;  the business card, as it has been for millennia, is the way to do it. The recipient can write the topic discussed on the reverse so they remember who you are and then’ job done’, you have harvested a person on your wavelength in order to talk to them later.

So what happens?

A few days later you ring up, give your name and say ‘do you have a few minutes to talk?’ If you have done your job properly, they will probably say ‘I was just thinking of you and thinking of calling as well’ You will then ask them if it is a good time to talk, they will then say ‘well as matter of fact it is’ so you talk for the next two hours (time flies), develop your subject, in an atmosphere that is free of distraction and you both really learn.

Now if you multiply this by six, in other words you get six people that you had something in common with, you’re going to have nutrition for the next couple of months at least.

There is nothing wrong going for a fishing expedition finding people on your wavelength because you will both benefit and you will not waste your time talking to people who are not really interested in your matter.

That’s the way to do it.

Here is my card, it’s as simple as anything and I paid £18 for 100 cards on thick card.

Try Solopress (look it up) They give good service and quick delivery. All you need are the basic details. No ‘design’ or fancy stuff is necessary.