It’s finally summer! And for those of us in Canada that means the short but sweet period of warm weather we wait for all year long. It’s great to get out and enjoy the summer weather but as entrepreneurs we still need to work and grow our businesses. Working however doesn’t always have to be a chore as you can work some fun in to your schedule. Networking is a great way to grow your contact base and your business. Here are 5 fun ways to network this summer:
- Attend a summer social/fundraiser
Many businesses and charities host events in the summer months such as summer parties and fundraisers. Attending a summer party hosted by a friend or spouse’s workplace or choosing to attend a fundraiser hosted by a local charity is a great way to meet new people and make new business contacts.
- Enter a charity sports tournament
Outdoor sports aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but if you are an athlete or athletically inclined entering a charity sports tournament and being part of a team is another fun way to make new connections. These tournaments are open to the public and attract participants from a myriad of different professional backgrounds.
- Volunteer at a local festival
Volunteering is a great way to get involved in your community. Summer time equals festival time – there always different festivals going on around us. Whether they’re music festivals, municipal events or cultural celebrations these festivals depend on volunteers. Many festivals put out public calls for volunteers from within the community. Not only does volunteering look great on your resume and professional profile, being a part of a local festival introduces you to more members of your community as well.
- Leverage your lunch break
The warmer summer weather is a great reason to be outside and an even better opportunity to invite a new connection out to lunch. Most people enjoy being out of the office during the warmer summer months and are more likely to accept a lunch invitation. The season also makes a lunch meeting more informal as you can opt for outdoor seating and enjoy your surroundings.
- Host a family BBQ
Summer is a great time to get the family together. Sure it might seem like you already know everyone in your family, but you don’t know who they know. As an entrepreneur it’s important to spread the word about your business and what a better audience than your family. Who knows they might just know someone who may be a great business connection.
Praveeni Perera is an experienced entrepreneur having co-founded a training and consulting company catering to clients around the world. Her area of expertise is international expansions. You can connect with her via Twitter or LinkedIn