So the thing is networking, relationship building and huddling like Emperor Penguins in the darkest of darkest time of year, when the sun abandons Antarctica and you need others to warm you and to survive. In fact according to the report; Antarctic Penguins and Climate Change, by the WWF shows that overfishing and a reduction in sea ice is threatening four populations of penguins that breed on Antarctica. Just like businesses in a recession desperately hanging on to the edges of a shrinking market. I guess the comparison falls flat here as we don't quite know when the sun returns so we need to think extra carefully about who we want to stick around with - and who we absolutly don't want to be near. I've decided to start structuring my networking efforts this year and the strategy to be: join already networks and clubs that match my profile and my brand.
The practical flaw with my strategy is the implementation: How to avoid spending my entire marketing budget on memberships and my time running to endless events risking that I turn into a full time lounge lizard?
Solution; I define my profile and score easyness to match: Woman(+), Mother (+), Entrepreneur (+), Business Mentor (+), Marketing Strategist (-), Portfolio Marketing Director(-), Arty (+), 40+(-), non-sector specific (-) enjoy creative spaces (-) and then create a long list of watering holes and score these with my own ratings: The Hospital (too media smug), The IOD (too big and uninterested in me), The Groucho (a bit shabby these days), One Alfred Place (smart but pricey) Reform Club (men only so big minus, and no jeans! Double minus but one of the finest Victorian pieces of architecture, hardly changed since 1841) Soho House ( a strong contender ++ I go straight to the roof terrace from May- August) Shoreditch House (another good roof top with a stunning pool + but location too far East) There is SKETCH in Mayfair (with amazing pastries and buzzing DJs - I'd ruin my figure in a month! double minus).
So, now I will sample a short list of the above and perhaps att Babington House just for good measure, even if it's Dorset or somewhere rather far away from London...
