Consider your living room. How does it look? What’s the energy in the space? When you’re at home, are you inspired, tired, relaxed, feeling rigid?
Coworking takes many forms around the world. As different as each facility may be, we’re all looking to create one thing: a place for brilliant work.
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Today is Halloween… what many would consider the official kickoff of the holiday season. While some may remain more conservative with their timeframe, declaring Thanksgiving the kickoff, we’d argue the distraction of family and food gatherings has already taken up precious space in the minds of our creative coworkers.
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Every business has a core. Whether it’s a specific product, a primary service, or an original merchandise line, your core serves as the cornerstone of your business. It’s the thing that got you into the industry and the reason your doors are still open today.
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Here at the Living Room, we are driven to create memorable experiences. But since we don’t always want to enjoy these incredible moments by ourselves, why not share them with you?
For most of us, selling for the first time is a terrifying hump to get over. It’s intimidating, overwhelming, and easy to feel completely out of place.
The first time I set out to sell for the Living Room was exactly one of those times.
Many of us have been in this situation, the day before you attend your first networking event ever. The uncertainty of the environment as well as your own anxiety quickly develops to falsely convince yourself of imminent failure. The simple fact is that no one is an expert in his or her first networking event. Expertise in this field requires experience, which will ultimately eliminate those senses of anxiety and uncertainty. Although it is impossible to be an expert initially, it is however, very possible to be prepared. So what does it take to be correctly prepared for such an event? Here are some simple ways to correctly prepare yourself for success in your first networking event:
Be aware of the attire recommended or required for the event.
There is nothing worse than showing up to a social gathering looking like a complete fool because you are either under or overdressed. To avoid this embarrassing situation, review the invitation, visit the event website, or contact the hosts to be sure that you will arrive to the event in a professional manner.
Make sure you have your business cards handy.
Through your preparations for the event, do not lose sight of the fact that you are not just trying to meet people, you are trying to keep in touch with these people outside the event. For the sake of future connections, make sure that you have plenty of business cards to provide the people you meet an easy way to connect with you.
Memorize how you are going to present yourself.
Develop a way that you can smoothly describe yourself or the company that you are endorsing so that people know you mean business. Prepare yourself how to answer certain questions that might be asked, as well as how you can break the ice to start up a conversation. You do no want to overwhelm the people with information that will lose their focus, so keep it simple and professional.
Relax! You’re going to do great!
Yes it is going to be awkward at first, but remember that you are not alone. It’s normal for most people to initially feel a bit uncomfortable at the event. It is important to also remember that these people all share at least one goal with you, the goal that they are looking for someone to talk with. So do not be afraid to approach someone for a conversation, because odds are that you are doing that person a favor by eliminating the awkwardness of standing alone.
Congratulations, you are now fully prepared to attend your first networking event! Now get out there and enjoy yourself.
Ever get invited to a business dinner and feel a little out of your league when you looked at the menu? Or maybe the sight of several forks and spoons was more daunting than the shoptalk at the end of the night? Seems in these modern times with life being so busy maybe your own parents never really taught you the basics? The good news is there’s nothing wrong with needing a little refresher course on business etiquette. Here are some of our top tips for looking like you’ve got it all figured out, even when maybe you don’t.
If that menu at the fancy French restaurant is all Greek to you, here are a few words you should know that might help you order.
Truffled
This simply means the dish has been cooked, garnished, or stuffed with truffles (subterranean mushrooms) in some way.
Tartare
A preparation of finely chopped raw meat. There are many variations on the tartare, including steak, chicken, salmon, and eel. The most common is tuna tartare.
Deconstructed
This is just a fancy way to say we are taking all the ingredients in a normal dish, and putting them together in a different way.
Ceviche
This is a popular Spanish seafood dish that is made with raw fish marinated in citrus juices and spiced with aji or chili peppers. It can then be seasoned with chopped onions and salt.
Mignardises or Petits Fours
Often times tasting menus simply end with “Mignardises” or “Petits Fours,” which are tiny, bite-sized desserts. They usually include tiny cookies or chocolates.
I have often been handed books from bosses or colleagues in my career and if I’m being truthful I’d bet only a handful have every really stood out to me. I find most business books are so lost in theory that it’s near impossible to find away to actually apply the principles they are trying to convey.
