Are You Sitting With The Right Company?

When I walked into Dallas's famous Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, all I wanted to do was to enjoy my New York Strip steak, relax and quietly review my notes for the following day's speech. Little did I know that a valuable business lesson awaited me at the table.

The only other customer in the bar was a guy sitting in the corner pounding away on his laptop. He didn't look up when I walked in. The bartender on the other hand noticed my nametag when I arrived and yelled, "Hey Scott! Grab a stool and have a drink!"

I walked over as he flung a coaster down and said, "What'll you have?"

"Actually," I said, looking at that man in corner, "I have some work to do. Is it cool if I grab one of those corner tables over there?"

"Sure, sit wherever you want," he said.

I sat down at the table caddy-corner from Mr. Laptop. He had one of the new Apple G5's. Nice computer, I thought. Briefly peering over at his screen, I saw that he was working online.

"Excuse me, but do you get high speed access in this bar?" I asked.

"Yeah! I'm set up with a wireless system. And it's nice because I'd rather work here than in my hotel room."

"Oh yeah, I know the feeling," I replied. "That's why I came here too."

Pointing down at my nametag, he asked what convention I was attending. I smiled and told him, "Actually I always wear a nametag. It makes people friendlier and more approachable." He chuckled, as most people often do when I give them my standard answer to this frequently asked question.

"Well Scott, it certainly worked on me! My name is Joachin. It's nice to meet you."

Joachin was a tech consultant from Orange County. He also flew in for the day to give a speech to one of his clients. Not surprisingly, we clicked instantly! And for the next hour, Joachin and I had one of those rare stranger conversations that covered just about every topic you could imagine. It was like we were old friends! And both of us seemed to have forgotten all about the work we'd each brought to the restaurant.

God I love it when that happens, I thought.

The more we got to know each other, the more it felt like our conversation could have lasted for hours. But it was getting late, and we both had big days ahead of us. So, after exchanging business cards and agreeing to drop each other a line sometime, Joachin left and returned to his hotel.

Wow! I'm so glad I talked to that guy! I said as I grabbed the notes for my speech. And as I took another bite of my steak, I also thought to myself, now wait a sec ? something just happened here...

One of the principles of communication I often discuss in my workshops and books is called "Sitting With The Right Company." This idea reminds us that every new encounter represents a choice. For instance, we can walk into a meeting, a party or even a restaurant and immediately seek out the easy seat. That seat could mean sitting all by ourselves or perhaps with a group of people we already know.

You'll notice this will happen a lot at networking functions. Employees from the same company ? who work together 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year ? will always sit together.

Because it's comfortable.

But sometimes, a temporary sacrifice in comfort is worth the value of the conversation that otherwise would not have existed. Sometimes you've just got to throw yourself out there. Sometimes you've got to break the silence and step onto the front porch of someone new.

Because you just never know. You never know whom you will meet, what you will learn or how it will reciprocate. Unfortunately, too many people are held captive by this comfort. And it is those people who are missing out on opportunities to enhance the net worth of their social capital. Sure, it's easier to talk to people we already know. But there's also something to be said for digging your well before you're thirsty.

After I paid my check and hopped back into the cab, you couldn't wipe the smile off my face. The cab driver probably thought I was drunk! But for some reason, the conversation I had with Joachin gave me more energy than the seven dinner rolls I'd just eaten!

And MAN that was beautiful.

Now, will we become life long friends? I doubt it. Business associates? Certainly, that's a possibility. But...will we either of us regret spending our meal talking and connecting with an exciting new person instead of sitting alone in a corner burying our noses in work?

No way. And in the end...

I was SO glad I didn't sit at the bar. I was SO glad I didn't work on my speech. And I was SO glad I DID sit with the right company.

© 2005 All Rights Reserved.

Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

---

Building Great Business Relationships

If you're in a business relationship with anyone ? a... Read More

What a Leads Exchange Group can do for You

What is the definition of a leads exchange and how... Read More

How Well Do Your Customers Know You?

Know your customer, know your customer, know your customer. Three... Read More

Where to Find a Cash Windfall of $10,000 - $1,000,000 - You Never Knew You Had

There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of... Read More

Networking

Networking: Is it who you know or what you know... Read More

Test Your Networking Know-How

Let's test your knowledge on networking:1)The best definition of networking... Read More

10 Effective Ways to Remember Names

Sigmund Freud says "a person's name is the single context... Read More

Develop a Great Network - Pay It Forward for Maximum Success

Who needs a network of people to talk to about... Read More

Sell For Yourself Or Sell For Your Boss?

First of all I would like to start this article... Read More

Why Arent You Talking to Me?

Your nonverbal communication talks before you do. Only seven percent... Read More

The 4 Attitudes of Awesome Hospitality

Hospitality relates to the Latin term philoxenia, or "the love... Read More

Savvy Networking: Grow Your Business and Your Career

Did you know that contacts are the bread of career... Read More

Good Manners Mean Good Business

Good manners, good networking and good business all have the... Read More

How to be Known

Why business relationships are formed with certain people?If you go... Read More

Five Stumbling Blocks To Successful Networking And How To Overcome Them

The ability to connect with people is essential to success... Read More

Unforgettable First Impressions Part 4: Become a Social Gift Giver

Do you ever wonder why single people give flowers, wine,... Read More

Ask for Referrals: And Get the Answer You Want!

Why are people scared to ask for a referral? Is... Read More

Five Steps for Expanding Your Customer Base with Guerilla Networking

As a single company, it is impossible to provide your... Read More

It Pays to be Friendly

Most small business people do not take advantage of human... Read More

Where Does That Word Come From?

"Instead of a handshake, I gave Toby a high-five to... Read More

8 Ways To Develop Confidence In New Situations

Do you enjoy one-on-one networking, however, the thought of walking... Read More

Sticky Situations: Nametag Best Practices

Because a person's name is the single context of human... Read More

Power Networking: Getting Your Name Out There!

Today's economy presents some very special challenges to people who... Read More

Joining Industry Specific Organizations Has Many Benefits

Recently, while providing an up-and-coming Virtual Assistant (VA) and small... Read More

Social Network Software

My neighbor ? a lovely man I've known, and have... Read More

What I Do Is Not Who I Am... The Networking Factor

Ah, the personal touch that continues to make a big... Read More

Is The Company You Keep Hurting Your Business?

When you look at your friends, it's like looking into... Read More

Networking in the Change Room: 5 Ways to Network Effectively While Getting Undressed

There's a time and place to network with people in... Read More

Creating Successful Alliances and Partnerships through Networking

Douglas Wilder, former Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and... Read More

Flying High, Flying Far

"What me? Sell myself? You have to be joking!"This was... Read More

Hows Your Net Working?

In recent weeks, I've had the opportunity to pass along... Read More

Which Networking Events Should You Attend?

How does one determine which are the best events to... Read More

Sharpen Your Business Networking Skill To Grow Your Small Business

Most people become lax at maintaining their professional business network... Read More