I met a local historian a few months ago. 

He was carrying a stack of documents and proudly sharing his latest discovery.

No one in the conference wanted to hear of it.

Nobody shared his enthusiasm or interest in the topic.

It was sad.

Your message should benefit your audience, and your audience will switch on if this will help them. 

You've got to deliver what's in it for them. 

And the rest will follow. 

There's engagement, interest, maybe support or perhaps more connections.

But it is seldom first about you.

It's never about you or your discovery unless the messaging radically changes for the hearer.

Historians are not necessarily great communicators.

A lot of authors are not either. And some politicians don't know how to speak in ways that register.

No matter how great your talent, charisma, or knowledge is, if you can't communicate your product, idea, or service, it's game-over before you even start. 

Don't be that historian who didn't find an audience in 10,000 conference goers.

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​If you're service club has given up on getting one wheelchair in another part of the world, you'd better realize that this is not the club that will make more impact in the world. 

They would fold up in the first glance of a difficulty. It doesn't matter if it's organizing a dinner fundraising, advocating for better policies at the provincial level or sending life-saving equipment to another country.

This is not a difficulty question. This is an attitude and a mindset issue. 

You're wasting your time persuading this people who had been convinced that the way to go is to the same thing all over again, pat themselves in the back for their fortunes, and give some money to charity and call it a day! 

That's not service, is it?  That's not even impact!
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Business networking needs a reboot. 

There's a strategic value of meeting people for the first time and building new relationship than hanging out with people who knew you already and have formed their opinions about you. It's great if that connection is as serious as you in mutually beneficial conversations but some are time-wasters.

It's like my family members who always visit us with treats and then start off with the same political rants all over again. If I record the conversation, it's that same old topics rehashed hundreds of times with fervor. 

I don't mind spending time visiting but the automatic chatter with a known contact gives me the headache. In that case, flight is my first response. 

As I grow my business, I seldom go to a networking event for the chit-chat hoping to find the right buyer or connection in the group. I do my research, I connect before the event to establish some baseline information, and I usually get down to business as soon as I arrive. 

My ideal position in a networking situation is a public role where people can see what I do first-hand and gravitate towards my brand. I was one of the jury at a business competition in a university last year. Prior to that, a mentor at a prestigious social entrepreneurship program where I get to advise venture founders one-on-one and in a group. That to me made sense as a expertise-deployment opportunity. I would rather host a gathering, or sponsor an event to get me in a more prominent role than just participating with the rest, although that can be fine too in some instances. It depends on your goals and preferences. 

Regardless of the outcome, I would ensure to enjoy myself. I would also recommend the same for everyone.