Preparing For Success

“If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.” Winnie the Pooh

Okay … wonderful, you have decided to join us at our monthly mixer at Bonners Party Rentals on Oct. 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of your two hours:

Many people freeze up walking into a crowded event. They don’t know what to say.  They think they do not have anything interesting to say. First things first, smile. Be the friendly face in the crowd. Smiling puts others at ease and it will draw people to you. If no one approaches you right away, there is usually that one other person who is also there alone and looking for someone to converse with.

Then you can use the obvious as conversation openers: who you are, what you do, the hot weather we have been having, etc., however, the thing you want to do is create a foundation for further conversation. Best ways to do this are: 1) Come prepared. Before you walk into an event, make sure you are prepared. Have business cards ready and think about a few interesting facts about your business and about your life that you could share. When someone asks, “What’s new?” don’t ever say, “Not much. Same old thing. Been working really hard.” Respond with recent successes and something, anything, that will make you seem more intriguing. 2) Listen. Active listening greatly contributes to creating positive energy between you and the other person. People don’t feel heard these days. If you make each person feel sincerely heard, then you’ll make a good impression. 3) Be curious. You don’t know the person you’re talking to, so ask questions. Then truly listen (refer to #2) to their responses. When you listen carefully you can hear what truly excites them and you can build from there. 4) Build on the energy. Small talk is more about the energy exchange than the words you actually speak. When you meet someone you connect with, the biggest impact they make is how you felt interacting with them more than what is said. 5) Be memorable. When someone asks, “What do you do?” it is best to not give job category, job title, job jargon, or the name of your organization. Tell them in a crystal clear, precise, memorable way that what you do may have a way of solving a problem they may have. Explain to them your talent, the reason you do what you do.

Whatever you do, make sure you meet and thank the hosts of any event. The hosts of Bonners Rentals, Tim and Liza Morelli, are two of the finest people that you will definitely want to get to know. They are always at every event, volunteering their time and supplies to help make every Crescenta Valley event spectacular. Bonners Rentals has been in business since 1939. The have been a member of almost every PTA and sports program that you can think of. Bonners Rentals offers a wide range of rental products. Their friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you find just exactly what you need to complete your project or prepare for your party. They also offer tool repair and carry RV supplies as well as Roto Mix and Brickform concrete products. Browse their site, bonnersrentals.com, and then head for their store at 6935 Foothill in Tujunga for our monthly mixer. See you there!

Important CV Chamber dates: Oct. 10 – Business mixer at Bonners Party Supplies;  Nov. 14  – Taste of the Foothills.

Please contact our office for more details on any event. How to reach us: (818) 248-4957/ crescentachamber@aol.com / www.LaCrescenta.org / 3131 Foothill Blvd., Ste. D.

  julia rabago