For most people, using the word networking and enjoyable in the same sentence seems oxymoronic. After all, we envision ourselves walking into a large room filled with strangers who seem engaged in lively discussions with long-time friends.
When we finally do strike up a conversation, it seems like we're either talking to the town bore, the desperado who's dying for connections or the egotist who can't get enough of himself. I shudder just thinking of those scenarios.
Yesterday I had an opportunity to enjoy a whole new way of connecting with people whose businesses are synergistic to mine. I went ...
... canoe networking!
Ladies Voyaguer Day 2006 (now in it's fourth year) was sponsored by Suzanne McGann, CEO of Voyageur IT - a growing web development firm. She invited customers, colleagues and other women she's met through her involvement in various associations.
While we looked like a motley crew when we gathered, we were really a group of high-powered business women. Our adventure started at the local state park where we met our traveling buddies and gorged ourselves with trail mix. Then we caravanned upstream where the canoes were.
Our guide for the day was Chris Heeter, founder of The Wild Institute. She gave us a quick overview of how to paddle so we wouldn't hurt too much the next day (note: my shoulders still ache!), then divided us into two groups based on our canoing experience.
Next Suzanne strategically paired us up with another woman who she
thought we should get to know better during the course of the day. Then
we pushed off and began paddling downstream. The water was calm, the
scenery beautiful, and the ambience was quiet and peaceful.
We stopped about halfway down for a break, switched partners and then continued onward. Late in the afternoon it started to rain lightly, but it didn't matter.
We covered about 10 miles in our journey down the river. My two
partners (Kris & Susan) & I covered a lot more ground in our
conversations.
When we finally arrived at our base camp, a gourmet meal awaited us. Our chef (from The Wild Institute) had been cooking all day. We had delicious salads, the most yummy salmon, wild rice & mushroom soup you could imagine, a desert to die for and more.
Plus, we had so much to talk about.
I also got a chance to talk with the women from the other canoes as we chatted about
our shared adventure, businesses, goals in life and much more.
So what does all this mean? If you're sick and tired of the
traditional networking opportunities, create your own. And have fun
while you do it! I'll guarantee you that the relationships I developed
yesterday will be far more beneficial than those I'd make at a chamber
event.
And let me put in one last plug for those in charge of yesterday's Ladies Voyageur Day 2006:
- Suzanne McGann's company developed the Awesome Women
website. I am one of the founding mothers of this group. We love her
work and what she's done for us. If you need someone to create a great
website for you, please check her out.
- Chris Heeter of The Wild Institute offers incredible trips (canoeing, dog-sledding, kayaking, whitewater canoeing and more) across the country. She does custom events for businesses and speaks to groups as well.
Now I'm off to soak my weary body. But I have a wonderful smile on my face because it was worth every moment of the time I spent yesterday - and more!
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