Are You a Connector?

So I’m at this networking meeting a few years ago, just me and 299 other entrepreneurs. As I walk in they hand me a name tag, some paper–I stuff it in my bag (I’m not really the lanyard type–I only just learned the word. Imagine surviving 5 decades, half a century, without that choice piece of vocab) and proceed to meet the peeps. I like this part. I’m a kid in a candy store. And meet the peeps I did as I always do. As I’m leaving, I hand back the name tag (it’s plastic–recycle, save the planet and all that…yeah tree hugger that’s me…) and I notice it says the word “Connector” under my name. I asked the chick behind the desk what that means and she tells me that I was one of 10 “Connectors” ( a great honor apparently) that everyone else was supposed to try and meet (and perhaps sign their paper, dunno, as you may recall, I stuffed mine in my bag.) So I’m a Connector huh? Not too shabby.

This afternoon, I received a chunky package (aren’t they always the most exciting) bearing Maribeth Kuzmeski’s new book, The Connectors and I’m curious to see what it’s all about. I must admit that I’m usually more interested in reading books about branding or behavioural economics than networking ’cause to me it’s all pretty natural, but many people tell me they dread networking, feel lousy at making connections and would rather sleep in to avoid the whole scene, so the target audience for this book is huge. If you’re one of them, check out The Connectors and let me know what you thought!