InFluential_Magazine_March_April_2017
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
influential-magazine.com<br />
hectic convention hall. This will allow<br />
you to focus on identifying ways to<br />
collaborate and to establish next steps<br />
after the conference.<br />
Take Care of Yourself<br />
If you’re spending eight hours a day<br />
walking around the exhibition hall and<br />
connecting with potential partners,<br />
your feet will be very unhappy by the<br />
end of the week. Invest in a pair of<br />
comfortable yet stylish dress shoes. It’s<br />
equally as important to stay hydrated<br />
and nourished. Stash some protein<br />
bars, or packets of almonds in your<br />
bag for when you don’t have time to<br />
take an hour-long lunch.<br />
Don’t Overdo it on the Happy Hour<br />
While you can do some great<br />
networking at the hotel bar, there<br />
is nothing worse than overdoing<br />
it with alcohol in a professional<br />
setting. While they say the best way<br />
to get to know someone is over a<br />
drink, that drink can quickly turn into<br />
a night you’ll regret in the morning.<br />
Aside from the embarrassment and<br />
potential business consequences,<br />
drinking can make you dehydrated,<br />
sluggish, and off your game for<br />
your next day at the conference. If<br />
you go out to meet with a potential<br />
business partner, one drink is plenty.<br />
If you need to have something in<br />
your hand, sparkling water with<br />
lemon is a safe choice.<br />
Give Yourself<br />
Time for Spontaneity<br />
Just like you don’t want to over<br />
plan a vacation, you don’t want<br />
to over plan when attending a<br />
conference. Leave some space to<br />
chat with a presenter after a talk or<br />
to get to know a startup that you’ve<br />
never heard of. Even though you<br />
might feel there is little to no extra<br />
time during a conference, make<br />
sure you set aside some wiggle<br />
room in your schedule for these<br />
conversations – they might just be<br />
the most important ones you have<br />
during the whole trip.<br />
Conferences provide opportunities<br />
to meet people from your industry and<br />
to learn about what your company’s<br />
future may hold. By ensuring your<br />
professional and personal needs<br />
are fulfilled, you’ll present a positive<br />
image for yourself and your business.<br />
Make the most of it. l<br />
MARCH / APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />
FLUENTIAL<br />
65
Change language