Canadian Small Business Women

Connection, Synergy, Community

Five Fun Ways to Network This Summer

 

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:

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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

3 Ways to Network This Summer

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Summer is fast approaching and as the days get longer and warmer entrepreneurs put their networking goals on hold.  Sadly many people think of networking as work and forget that a strong network is built through relationships not rules or business card quotas. Contrary to popular belief summer is a great time to get out there and strengthen your network. Here are three ways you can network this Summer:

Get in the game
Outdoor sports are extremely popular in the summer. Whether you’re a player or simply a fan get in the game by joining a sports team or attending a sporting event.  There are also some great charity sports events such as golf or volleyball tournaments that you can get involved in.  Sharing a common interest such as sports, brings people together and helps form better relationships.

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.

Attend some festivals
Summer is famous for its festivals. Attending a few summer festivals is a great way to learn about new music and different cultures. It also exposes you to many potential connections.  Most festivals are free and open to the public so it’s a cost effective way to enjoy the summer and build your network.

  Praveeni Perera is the CEO and co-founder of Professional Edge Consulting a corporate training company based in Ottawa offering training and coaching services to clients around the world.  She can be reached via Website, Twitter, Facebook or her Blog.

Networking in the GTA

There are a slew of networking events in and around the GTA this week.  If you are a serious networker and interested in making valuable connections, then you need to be at these events.  Personally, I will be making an appearance at all of them because they are worth it!

 

AUGUST 9TH:  BROUGHT TO YOU BY CANADIAN SMALL BUSINESS WOMEN

 This event features vendors and 6 Business Building Workshops.  You will have endless opportunities to network.

Small Business Seminar

 

AUGUST 10TH: BROUGHT TO YOU BY MONARCH GIRLS

This event will feature loads of health and wellness opportunities as well as some pampering.  You will get a chance to network as well.

MonarhGirls-Logo

AUGUST 13TH:  BROUGHT TO YOU BY UNLEASHPR

 This event gives you a chance to network with up to 1300 entrepreneurs as well as workshops from the biggest names in business.

 summer networking bash

Summer Do's For The Perfect Workspace

HRT-boardroom

Summer is the perfect season to edit spaces. In doing so we keep it feeling fresh, clean and cool. The same should be done with our work-space.

Take a good look around the area that you are working in. Are you walking around things, moving one pile from area to area? Is there too much furniture in the space, too many trinkets, too much paper? De-clutter table tops. Clearing away excess items will give the space an instant lift. Take some time to evaluate what you really need to have around you to accomplish your tasks.

Pay attention to the colours in your space. Working with your corporate colours in the interior, analyze how it relates to summer! If you need to throw in some white to cool the colours down – do so! or add a complementary colour to make your logo pop.  A little bling and sparkle will keep the space bright – cool blue glass to hold pens, a lime green plant holder, a simple crystal vase (and of course indulge in flowers!).

Bring a bit of the exterior in to the interior — be mindful of the spaces that lead directly outside. Bring some of the colours from outside to inside. This might be as simple as a landscape photo, a plant or the colour of files you use! You won’t feel as confined, restricted and desk-bound.

If (like me) you need to have many of the things you’re working on at hand, try to contain them in file folders, envelopes, boxes. Then neatly organize them on a side credenza or perhaps a wall file holder/shelf. They are still accessible but away from your immediate work.

Your immediate work space should have just what you’re working on (oh and I must have a little notebook as I’m forever entering new passwords when sourcing or a phone call comes in and I jot notes). Clear off as much as the surface as possible – this doesn’t mean it has to be sterile and empty. You may be able to clear it enough to accommodate a beautiful plant – a nice visual rest point in the space where paper seems to gather.

The space surrounding your work-surface also needs to be cleared up. If you have too many pieces of furniture around – take some away. Open the space up, be sure your walking path is always clear and your project items accessible.

Meeting spaces should also be clutter-free. Keep the focus on the people, the interaction and the presentation at hand. The boardroom shown here demonstrates simplicity and attention requirements for this space.

Change your light-bulbs to a cool day white – definitely more seasonal and easier to work in.

Experience the many benefits to clearing a desk, tidying a bookshelf, filing paperwork and enjoying the luxury of free space. It will energize you and allow your creative to surface more quickly.

Enjoy the season and challenge yourself to be comfortable no matter what the temperature is outside!

Karen Klucowicz is the lead designer with Erotica Interiors Inc. – a full service design studio that helps bring peoples’ passions alive through interior design – creating sensual private or commercial spaces. 

connect with karen via

www.EroticaInteriors.com 

facebook   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Erotica-Interiors/373175062771124

twitter @EroticaInterior