As business owners, designers entrepreneurs or just travellers of the world. It is always good to meet interesting people and disucss interesting topics. Yesterday I attended a #techMAP meetup, which I have to admit is getting better each time I go.

The speaker Simon Gough Who is Managing Director at Redfront Projects gave an interesting if not rushed presentation on Service Design Methodology. [He was called in last minute to do this as the main speaker pulled out.  What a good egg. Considering he had only the day before run the London Marathon and only hours before presenting was relaxing in the park with his children]

After the presentation @mistergough and I had a really interesting conversation about psychology, economics and the  consumer theory, of a Giffen good. For those of you who do not know. A Giffen good  is one which people paradoxically consume more of as the price rises, violating the law of demand. In normal situations, as the price of a good rises, the substitution effect causes consumers to purchase less of it and more of substitute goods. In the Giffen good situation the income effect dominates, leading people to buy more of the good, even as its price rises.

As well as talking economics I learned a new word: heterogeneity. Look it up. I did. Other interesting people I met included Sam Morris from Thinkbdwmedia whose rather direct approach to Digital Media was refreshing. Steve Ward who’s take on the recruitment industry was compelling. Nick Harris whose story about one of his children typing the word “Bum” into google was funny if not worrying based on the knowledge that children are becoming far more aware of technology and how to use it.  And finally  Alexia Lechman from Blossoming Brands who when asked what makes you special replied “Me.”  What I found more interesting however was that her favourite cheese was Robuchon. All in all not a bad networking event.

As a member of several meetup groups and as someone who likes to meet new people for business. It has become more apparent to me that going to these various meetups was and is very much like being single and being on the dating scene.

One of the things that I’ve noticed about the meetup groups and networking events that I go to, is that they vary in both quality and content and as such so do most people’s dating experiences.

So for all those new to both dating and more importantly networking for business here are some dating tips from topdatingtips.com that can be applied to meetups and networking for business events in general.

Top 10 Dating Tips [Which can be applied to business networking]

1. Get prepared for dating. If you really want to succeed in the dating game, be ready to commit to dating. Half-heartedness won’t work. In fact, it won’t even get you half-way. If you really want to date, put some effort into it. Do some research and think about what you want out of dating. Prepare yourself for the inevitable rejection we all face at some point in dating and commit not to give up.

2. Get your act together. Begin a regime of looking your best. Join a gym, read health magazines, get fit and start a diet. Get your hair cut or styled and begin a new regime of good grooming or beauty treatment. Though it will not find you a date in itself, you will feel a million times more confident about yourself, and others can sense that.

3. Go shopping and treat yourself to new clothes and even a whole new look. Get your image right, one that you can manage and live with, but one that flatters you. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, but amplify and accentuate your positives. Throw out those tired jeans, old sweaters or cardigans and spruce yourself up. Your date will appreciate that you demonstrated some effort.

4. Think about what you want to gain from dating and what timeframes you expect. Do you see yourself married within 2 years? If you do, then approach dating accordingly. If you are more laid back and don’t take dating too seriously then ask yourself some honest questions about why you are dating and what you hope to achieve. If it is purely sex then ask yourself if you are about to be honest with those you hope to date.

5. Surround yourself with people who will support your dating aims. By following the first four tips you will feel better and be more focused. Don’t sabotage this by sitting around with friends who are negative about love and relationships (often the married ones). Start attending social functions frequented by singles. Sitting alongside couples at dinner parties in suburbia is not necessarily where you need to be right now.

6. Choose those you have a good chance of dating. Be realistic. In other words, your dating is based on the whole package you present as well as just your personality. If you are looking for a glamour girl or boy and want to date someone trendy and gorgeous, great! Just know that others will expect you to be the same.

7. Join clubs, societies, sports events, drama groups — anything that might help you meet like-minded potential partners. You will not meet people by staying indoors and playing video games – many have tried and failed at this approach.

8. Take time off from dating occasionally if it’s not going well or causing dating fatigue. Recharging your batteries and keeping confidence and optimism levels high is an absolute must. We all hit rough patches, but don’t let your search for love become a death march. Date in phases if necessary.

9. Enjoy dating for what it is, dating. It is meeting people and socializing and spending time in the company of stimulating individuals who may or may not play a bigger part in your life down the road. The fact is, most people have something interesting to offer. While you may not be out on the dating scene looking for new friends, you may well find one or two fabulous people along the way.

10. Never make yourself too available. People like mystery and enigma and the thrill of the chase when dating. As part of keeping up the mystery, do not sleep with your dates early on. The longer a person is made to chase and fall for you within reason, the more likely that love may blossom. (And yes, this goes for both men AND women!) If the chemistry peaks too early, your emotions may never have time to catch up and the relationship will eventually wither away.

1) Become familiar with the social networking tools like LinkedIn, FaceBook, and Twitter

Networking has always been the most important strategy in finding a job.

Before we had social networking tools, we dug out our list of contacts and blindly went out trying to find people that might be able to help us with our job search. There are “leads meetings” where people exchange business cards and give their elevator pitches. These methods are still useful ways to network. However, by using tools such asLinkedIn,FaceBook, andTwitterwe are able to be much more intelligent with how we network.

Social media tools allow us an easy way for keeping in touch and expanding our networks,finding mutually beneficial relationships. These tools, particularly LinkedIn, are absolutely essential in the modern day job search.

There are also manytips and tricksthat are particularly geared towards helping job seekers.

2) Don’t wait until you need something

The best time to network is before you need anything.

Networks can help with a lot more than a job search. A community of people can help each other in many ways. Building up a strong network when you are happily employed can help you progress in your career and build lifelong professional friendships. Don’t wait until you’ve been laid off to connect with your colleagues in LinkedIn and Facebook.

However, if you’re new to the social networking scene and are in need of a job, it’s not too late. Go ahead and get start building your networks using social networking tools and by getting involved in communities of interest.Invite all the friends from your email address book(not just those that you think will help you with your job search) to join your networks.

3) Seek to help and support others

Participate in your networks, looking for ways to help others.

Join networks aimed at job search and pass along tips and tricks. Help your contacts find leads to companies they’re interested in by searching your own network. Pass along what you learn from others. By helping other people you are also helping yourself become established in the community as a resource.

But don’t limit your help and support only to job seekers.

Look for opportunities to help people in your area of expertise. Connecting with friends on Facebook or Twitter allows an easy way for you to stay up-to-date on what’s going on in your friends’ lives. Simply giving them a quick message of friendship can spread a feeling of happiness.

4) Be personal and genuine

I’ve heard advice from several people that when you’re networking you shouldn’t tell people directly that you’re looking for a job. You befriend them, find out more about them, help them with something, and then in the course of the conversation they will find out your in the job market. I understand that this should be the philosophy in sales.

Build the relationship first before you start selling.

However if you’re meeting someone specifically because of a job search, I think it’s important to be upfront. Let people know that you are looking for a job, but don’t “sell” yourself. Enjoy the friendship and support you receive and give it willingly and genuinely to others. And don’t limit yourself simply to email or social networking tools. Meet new people often – not with the sole purpose of finding a job, but with the purpose of meeting new friends and getting to know people with shared interests.

5) Have a confident attitude

One of the hardest things I ever had to do was fundraising for Leukemia and Lymphoma.

I had committed to raising $4000 which meant I had to ask a lot of people for money. I hated putting them on the spot until one man – someone I barely knew whose son was in remission– donated $500. The next time I was raising money, I asked him again, but told him I didn’t want him to think I was taking advantage of his generosity. He gave me another $500 and said, “I would be hurt if you DIDN’T ask me. Be proud of what you’re doing.”

Though not everyone has this generous attititude about giving, I realized thatwhen we are asking people for help, our attitude makes a world of difference.

When we ask someone to meet so we can talk to them about a job opportunity, we shouldn’t be apologetic or feel that we’re imposing. Certainly we want to be grateful for the meeting, but we are not only learning from them, but sharing of ourselves. Initiating a new relationship, whether or not it results in a job, is something to feel good about. Don’t go about networking as though you’re a charity case.

Go in being proud of what you can offer to others.

6) Thank those who help you

An attitude of gratefulness is one that helps keeps your community strong.

When someone helps you in your job search, make sure they realize how grateful you are. Social networking tools can help you keep in touch and keep up with your friendships. Of course, for people that have gone out of their way to help you, personal contact is better than an email or Wall message.

Treat your biggest supporters to lunch or surprise them with a gift in thanks for their efforts. And certainly offer to return the favor of help in any way you can.

7) Pay it forward

When someone helps us, we know how good it feels and we naturally want to spread that feeling to others that might need it.

One of the best things about community is the contagious feelings of happiness it can bring to pass on to others the support that we’ve received. Social networking tools have made it simple by allowing us to easily share advice or information that we find useful. With Twitter, we simply have to “Retweet” to pass along information. With FaceBook and LinkedIn we can easily post links to our status pages of helpful information passing along to our own networks.

If you found this article useful, you can help me by spreading the word through your networks. Additional articles about social networking and the job search can be found onmy blog. My contact information and connection information for LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter can be found there. Looking forward to having you

Original Source: jobmob.co.il

For those of you who are not familiar with the programme, Come Dine With Me is a Channel 4 television programme shown in the England. The show has four/5 amateur chefs competing against each other hosting a dinner party for the other contestants. Each competitor then rates the host’s performance with the winner winning a £1,000 cash prize. An element of comedy is added to the show through comedian Dave Lamb, who provides a dry and sarcastic narration.

I personally don’t like the show and find it rather boring.  However what I would find rather interesting would get 5 entrepreneurs, who had never me to each pitch there business idea to the other contestants.  The contestant with the most points wins a cash prise that can help with their business idea.

Do you think this is a good idea?  let us know by leaving a comment.

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