One of my job responsibilities is to sell new work. I’ve tried to outsource this part of my job but I found that people who want to sell work for me all want a really big cut and as it turns out, I don’t like to share my money. So, I network. A lot. Not as much as say a tobacco lobbyist, but I do my fair share of events. It’s exhausting and I never look forward to it. Usually, the events are after work and usually it is with people who are really just there for the drinks and have no intention of buying my services. But on occasion, you meet someone interesting and learn something new, like for instance, tonight.
Tonight, I went to a network event for women owned businesses. Typically, I try not to network with other women because women are really bad at networking. I know it sounds sexist, but since I am a woman, I think it is okay to share this fact as simply an observation from the inside. When women network, they go to meet people and want to get to know you before they do business with you. Generally speaking, women will try very hard to make you a friend. That’s why women networking events are great places to make new friends. But, it is an insanely slow way to make more sales.
Men on the other hand do business at networking events. Men already assume you want to be their friend because you both have ESPN on your TV or because you both drive cars, so they skip the connection portion of the night and go straight to making sales.
So at this women’s networking event, I meet a woman who wants to be my friend. And because she wants to be my friend she says nice things about me like she really likes my necklace and earth fruit tones look really good on me. Huh? What’s an earth fruit tone? Generally, I get all my fashion advice from one source; Delta Sky Magazine. It’s where I read that I should add a splash of color to my winter wardrobe. And they were right. My J.Crew apple green pea coat circa 2005 still gets compliments. (Fashion Alert: According to the experts at delta, the London Fog trench coat is making a comeback. So for all the men readers of this blog, you heard it here (via delta) first). Anyway, Delta Sky Magazine has not mentioned anything about earth fruit tones, I assume this is a not a trend I need to follow. But I’m intrigued and this does appear to be an opportunity to have a conversation that does not revolve around sports, so I do my best to engage. It turns out that in tough economic times, there’s a thing called the “lipstick index” which basically shows that lipstick sales go up when the economy is bad because women seek small indulgences in lipstick (I think there is a name for this with starbucks coffee as well, but we didn’t get that far in the conversation). To further increase sales, the cosmetic industry redefines its color palettes to give you a reason to come back to the store. So say good bye to the days of simply being an autumn or spring color palette because now you are earth fruit (strawberry, watermelon, cantaloupe) or forest floor (mossy greens, browns, stone grays) among others.
Now I feel obligated to help this women. First she flatters me, then she gives me an impromptu lesson on beauty and the economy. So I tell her I’ll set up an introduction for her with a business that I know needs her services and I then realize that I am sooo easy. She does not want to be my friend. Apparently, all it takes is a compliment and I’ll get you a job. She probably spotted me a mile away. So, instead of getting annoyed, I’ve decided to steal her game and plan to flatter people into doing business with me. I’ll let you know how it goes because you are some of my favorite as well as some of the smartest people I know.
Comments