Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Let’s Meet Each Other [for Coffee] Halfway

How many times have you wanted to meet someone for a networking breakfast, coffee, or lunch, but you worked or lived so far from each other that you decided to meet on neutral ground, somewhere in-between. “Let's Meet in the middle,” they say.

That’s great, because it makes it easier to get together. But how do you figure out where to meet? Where exactly is “halfway in-between” the two of you? And since neither of you live or work there, what sort of restaurants, coffee shops, or taverns can be used for a meeting place?

Regina Maxwell introduced me to a web site called GeoMidpoint (http://www.geomidpoint.com/meet), You give it two addresses, and it tells you exactly where “halfway in-between” really is. Actually GeoMidpoint gives you the midpoint (as the crow flies) and the route midpoint (as you will drive it).

You can then ask for restaurants and other items of interest in the area. (Bowling and golf are great ways to network. Watching a movie, less so.)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Mix It Up For Even More Fun with Networking

It’s been a while since I last posted, and I think it is beyond time to take up the keyboard again.

I stopped doing regular “This Week in Philadelphia” blog postings sometime this past summer. While people liked them, they duplicated information you could find easily on the Basecamp Business Calendar Network. I found the event listing posts were distracting me from doing better things with the Fun with Networking blog.

Of course, once I got out of the habit of doing a weekly post, it was hard to get back in the habit. I wasn’t really sure of what I wanted to say, if there was anything new to say about professional networking, or if it was time to move on to other issues.

I’ve been networking quite a bit lately. I had always continued to network, but I had gotten into something of a rut – going to the same groups, or spending time connecting with a relatively static group of contacts.

I decided it was time to mix it up a bit, go to some new groups, meet some new people, learn some new things. Immediately, I started seeing things I wanted to share. “Wow, this would be great to post on the Fun with Networking blog. Too bad I’m not doing blog posts any more. I should figure out what I want to do with that blog…”

Well, I still haven’t figured out exactly what I am going to do with this blog, but I’ve decided that I have some things to share, so I am going to start posting. We will see where things go from there.

So, my first renewed insight about networking is: mix it up and keep things fresh. If you keep doing the same things, going to the same places, and seeing the same people, then you really won’t be open to sorts of transformative changes that can happen when you get yourself out and expose yourself to something new.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

This Week in Philadelphia for 6-19

Smart Talk: Adventures in Entrepreneurialism, Deloitte Fast 50 Secrets of Success
University City Keystone Innovation Zone
University City Science Center


4th Summit on Managed Care Marketing Strategies
The Center for Business Intelligence


15th Annual Wharton Leadership Conference: Leading in a Reset Economy and Uncertain World
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business


Philadelphia June Keiretsu Forum
Keiretsu Forum


Tools of the Trade: Turn Your Bright Idea into a Successful Startup
Empowerment Group


Russian-American Life Sciences Conference
Mid-Atlantic - Russia Business Council


Venture Ready Entrepreneur Workshop Series: How to Talk to Money—The Elevator Pitch
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP


Special Networking Fundraiser
Professional Business Network


Marketing to Women Online Panel
Philadelphia Interactive Marketing Association


2011 Chapter Picnic
National Speakers Association


PR Institute Awards & Networking Happy Hour
Public Relations Society of America - Philadelphia Chapter


GETTING STARTED WITH HTML 5
American Society for Training and Development - Greater Philadelphia Chapter

Sunday, June 12, 2011

This Week in Philadelphia for 6-12

Time Management is Not Enough: Excellence in Execution
Mid-Atlantic Consultants Network


Will Anything Stop a Nuclear Iran?
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia


Science on Tap: June
Chemical Heritage Foundation


Best Practices in Email Marketing for Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
Sales and Marketing Executives (SMEI) of Philadelphia


6/14 LFHM: Hair Follicle Stem Cells & Skin Regeneration
University City Science Center


Lunch with the CITY's LEADERS
Center City Proprietors Association


Minority Business: New Age of Procurement and Financing Opportunities
Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia, Inc.


Permission Marketing Discussion for Pharmaceutical/Life Sciences Marketers
Philadelphia Chapter of the American Marketing Association


Breakfast Breakout Session: What Every CFO Needs to Know About the Changes to the HSR Act Premerger
The CFO Alliance


Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year 2011 Greater Philadelphia Awards gala
Ernst & Young LLC


HR Business Networking - Extend your Reach
Philadelphia SHRM


PPRA 2011 Annual Meeting
Philadelphia Public Relations Association


Marketing to Women Online Panel
Philadelphia Interactive Marketing Association


Practical Knowledge Series - CEO Roundtable: Traits and characteristics of effective CEOs
Bio Strategy Partners

Sunday, June 5, 2011

This Week in Philadelphia for 6-5

US-Japan Health Sciences Dialogue
Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia


SIM Philadelphia Workshop/Dinner - Mobility/CIO-CFO working together
Society for Information Management, Philadelphia


Business After Hours - Meatball & Martini Mixer
Delaware County Chamber of Commerce


June Networking at The Philadelphia Belle
Young Professionals Network


Social Web Sampler
Philly NetSquared


9th Annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Symposium
Turnaround Management Association, New Jersey Chapter


Mobile Infrastructure and Applications: Building the Mobile Reality
Mobile Monday MidAtlantic


PACT Founders Luncheon- Open to All Philly Sports Fans!
Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies


"Economic Cycles" Lakshman Achuthan, ECRI Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer
Philadelphia Council for Business Economics


PA Bio Knowledge Fair and Summer Social
Pennsylvania Bio


Young Professionals at Drexel University LeBow College of Business
Main Line Chamber of Commerce


June Chapter Meeting: How to Cultivate Shared Practice Communities
ASTD Greater Philadelphia Chapter


2011 PDMA Benny Awards and Direct Marketer of the Year Party
Philadelphia Direct Marketing Association


End of Year Thirsty Thursday
Delaware County Human Resources Association


Venture Ready Entrepreneur Workshop Series
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP


Fast Pitch Olympics: Best of the Best Company CEOs
New Jersey Entrepreneurs Forum


The 21st Annual FĂȘte du Printemps Black-tie Spring Gala
French American Chamber of Commerce Philadelphia Chapter


How to Create an Extraordinary Resume that works in 2011
My Career Transitions

Sunday, May 22, 2011

This Week in Philadelphia for 5-22

BioNJ 2011 International Biopartnering Conference
Bio NJ


Navy Partnership in Industry Agreement Signing
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station


Philadelphia SmartCEO Matrix Event
Smart CEO - Philadelphia


Germany – the EU's Powerhouse!
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia


Careers in Business Ownership
Wayne Presbyterian Church


29th Annual Monetary Trade Conference
Drexel University's Lebow College of Business


Mobile Payments: Legal and Business Issues on the Latest Payments Frontier
Pepper Hamilton


Spring Conference
Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals - Middle Atlantic Chapter


Networking at Noon
Center City Proprietors Association


40 Under 40 Awards Program
Philadelphia Business Journal (PBJ)


The New Expert
Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia, Inc.


Spring Mixer
Philadelphia Chapter of the American Marketing Association


2011 MADV company showcase
Mid-Atlantic Diamond Ventures


Coffee @ Quorum
University City Keystone Innovation Zone
University City Science Center


Venture Ready Workshop Series - How to Hunt Money
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP


PORTFOLIO NIGHT RETURNS TO PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia Ad Club


Select Greater Philadelphia Spring Celebration
Select Greater Philadelphia
University City Science Center

Sunday, May 15, 2011

This Week in Philadelphia for 5-15

ChemPharma Annual Spring Networking Event
ChemPharma


IMC Philly - Social Networking - How much and what is enough?
Institute of Management Consultants USA - Philadelphia Chapter


3rd Annual Delaware Health Sciences Alliance Research Symposium
Delaware Health Sciences Alliance



Getting Ready for an M&A Transaction: Growth or Exit - Are You Prepared?
Pepper Hamilton


Delaware BioBreakfast Series
Delaware BioScience Association


PACT Life Science Event sponsored by Fox Rothschild LLP
Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies


Neuroeconomics: Decision Making and the Brain
University of Pennsylvania


Small Business Week Kick Off
Philadelphia Business Journal (PBJ)


1st Annual Northeast Small Business Conference Small Business in the Economic Recovery
Community College of Philadelphia


Top CMOs and Marketing Directors Divulge Their Secrets to Success
Legal Marketing Association - Philadelphia Chapter


PhIMA Happy Hour & Networking Event
Philadelphia Interactive Marketing Association


Social Media – A focus on making it work!
Philadelphia Ad Club


Centennial Gala: It Happened First in Philadelphia
International House Philadelphia

Sunday, May 8, 2011

This Week in Philadelphia for 5-8

Building the Future of MACN: Plan or Be Planned For
* Mid-Atlantic Consultants Network


Health Care Workforce Trends and Challenges: ICD-10, 2010 Salary Survey, and More
* Healthcare Leadership Network of the Delaware Valley


MedTech Breakfast Briefing
* Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies


GPSEG 8th Annual Golf Outing
* Greater Philadelphia Senior Executives Group


Science on Tap: May
* Chemical Heritage Foundation


Little GAAP: The Impact of Proposed Standards for Privately Held Companies
* The CFO Alliance


SMEI Philadelphia: Using Presentation Tools to Keep People Awake and Learning!
* Sales and Marketing Executives (SMEI) of Philadelphia


2011 Hall of Fame Luncheon Honoring Matthew Cabrey
* Philadelphia Public Relations Association


Brown Bag Lecture: “Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory”
* Chemical Heritage Foundation


Seasoned Marketer Roundtable Call "Pleasure and Pain: Marketing and Selling in the New Economy"
* Association for Accounting Marketing Philadelphia Chapter


Shifting Mindsets: An Essential Competency for Breakthrough Performance
* Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs


IMPACT 2011 Kickoff Event
* Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies


The Ultimate Networking Event Live at Tavern on Broad at The Bellevue
* The Ultimate Networking Group


SIM Philadelphia Breakfast & Panel Discussion
* Society for Information Management, Philadelphia


Coffee @ Quorum
* University City Keystone Innovation Zone
* University City Science Center


Calling All Entrepreneurs
* Diverse Philly


Entrepreneurial Skills Workshop - "Build an Organization that Builds Itself: Introducing Holacracy"
* Drexel University, Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship


Human Resources Mixer presented by NAAAP Philadelphia's Corporate Relations Business Unit
* National Association of Asian American Professionals


WENDY HAMILTON - Lunch with the CITY's LEADERS
* Center City Proprietors Association


CreativeConnects
* CreativeConnects


Communicating With Executives And Decision Makers
* American Society for Training and Development -- Greater Philadelphia Chapter


Shakers and Stirrers
* Networking For Professionals, Inc.


Marketing Practices for Electric Generation Suppliers
* Blank Rome LLP


HR Person of the Year Award
* Greater Valley Forge Human Resource Association, Inc.


Philly BioBreak Networking Happy Hour
* Philly BioBreak


Philadelphia Spring Content Marketing Summit
* NuSpark Marketing

Sunday, April 24, 2011

This Week in Philadelphia for 4-24

Kick Off Breakfast
* Philly Tech Week


First Round Capital Office Hours
* First Round Capital


Tools of the Trade: Turn Your Bright Idea into a Successful Startup
* Empowerment Group


SUPERFLUID IN MEATSPACE
* The Hacktory


GPSEG Regional Business Outlook
* Greater Philadelphia Senior Executives Group


April 2011 Rutgers Quarterly Business Outlook
* Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey
* Flaster/Greenberg
* Rutgers University - Camden School of Business


Avoiding the Next Financial Crisis
* Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce


Starting Down the Chemistry Pathway
* Chemical Heritage Foundation


LFHM: Targeted therapies for children's brain tumors: Cooperation among academia, biotech, big pharma and a flock of sheep
* University City Keystone Innovation Zone
* University City Science Center


What is Cloud Computing and Why Should Nonprofits Care?
* NPower PA
* Philly Tech Week


Technical Talent Expo
* Philly Startup Leaders
* Philly Tech Week
* University City Science Center


CleanTech - A Vision of the Future
* Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia, Inc.


Augmented Reality: Seeing the Future Now
* breadboard
* Philly Tech Week


Office Space Printer Smash with the Hacktory
* Philly Tech Week


Girl Geek Dinner
* Philly Tech Week


Meet the Lenders
* Wharton Small Business Development Center


Keiretsu Forum Philadelphia Second Forum
* Keiretsu Forum


4th Annual Movers & Shakers Luncheon
* Philadelphia Ad Club


Philadelphia 2035: The Comprehensive Plan
* Philly Tech Week


Temple University Be Your Own Boss Bowl Business Plan Competition: Finalist Presentations and Networking Reception
* Temple University Fox School of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute


PACT Investing Strategies Event Sponsored by Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
* Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies


Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Innovation
* Philly Tech Week


Wordpress Happy Hour
* Philly Tech Week


Emerging HR Leaders Networking and Wii Night
* Philadelphia SHRM



Green Tech Showcase
* Philly Tech Week


BarCamp NewsInnovation 2011
* BarCamp NewsInnovation

Sunday, April 10, 2011

This Week in Philadelphia for 4-10

Innovating for Impact: A Stakeholder Frame
Mid-Atlantic Consultants Network


Delaware Bio 2011 Annual Awards Gala
Delaware BioScience Association


Science on Tap: April
Chemical Heritage Foundation


Meet the Lenders
Wharton Small Business Development Center


Branding Yourself
Sales and Marketing Executives (SMEI) of Philadelphia


PACT Membership Breakfast
Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies


April Evening Program
Philadelphia Public Relations Association


CleanTech - A Vision of the Future
Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia, Inc.


LES Philadelphia Meeting: Doing Business in China - A BMP Sunstone Story
Licensing Executives Society
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP


April Happy Hour!
Philly Startup Leaders


Angel Venture Fair
Private Investors Forum


PACT Academy Event
Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies


Career Boom: Job Security in an Aging Society presented by GenPhilly
Generation Appreciation Philadelphia (GenPhilly)


Moving On, Up or Out: Buying or Selling a Privately Held Business
Flaster/Greenberg


DAVID L. COHEN - Lunch with the CITY's LEADERS
Center City Proprietors Association


6th Annual Social Entrepreneurship Conference: From Idea to Impact
Temple University Fox School of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute


IMC Philly - Ethical Traps in Consulting
Institute of Management Consultants USA - Philadelphia Chapter


Leveraging Global Talent: Immigration 101
Philadelphia SHRM


Jump Start Your Job Search
Greater Valley Forge Human Resource Association, Inc.
Villanova University