Who Are You And Why Do You Want To Chat With Me?

"If you would converse with me, please define your terms" Voltaire.

The above quote is a great example of someone who liked to network, but wanted to get straight to the point. In other words, if you want to take some of my valuable time to chat with me, I want to know why.

In this modern day of constant networking coming to the point is often the best way to go. Saying that, I do not mean try and sell me your products and services without first knowing who I am and if I might have a need for them. Check me out on LinkedIn, see who I am what I do, where I live, work, who I connect with. That gives you a great background with which to work. When you connect with me if you want help tell me that. If you want to sell to me ask me if you can share some information about your company.

But, if you want to converse with me and I have no idea why, i.e. you have not defined your terms as the above quote suggests, I am more often than not to decline until I find out more about you.

Trust could be an issue if you connect with someone and they have no idea who you are or who you want. Plus, time is money and if you are extremely busy you have to define what is best for you where network meetings one on one are concerned.