Timely! We are giving our first workshop this evening, and between your article and Kate's workshop last week, I am feeling pretty comfortable. I just finished my last practice run. Handouts will be printed pronto, not this afternoon, as well as a checklist. I timed my presentation, but I will take a long a timer to make sure I stick to the schedule. Treats! I have to get treats!

Warm, fuzzy article! Best of all, these are some tips that I can use immediately as I build social networks. Thanks for the reminder about patience and gratitude--always good business strategies.

Thanks Albert! I like this analogy because it makes you think about where in your "house" you want to conduct business, or in our case when we have a couple more evolving, where in the house they all belong, and how do they share each room's potential.

LaSara, you just cut my Twitter education time in half, thank you for posting this useful information. I feel like I am in a conversation with myself right now, so I am thinking some of your info will change that.

Gretchen (@paceasy)

Loved the article! I am an introvert and thereby prefer one-on-one arrangements over walking into a group. Not shy, though, and I have found it very useful to know the difference.

One thing I recently discovered is that I like groups much more if I initiate the group. I am now reworking my networking plans for next year to attend less and initiate more and make them things I like to do, such as offering a class or seminar, sponsoring an event, "adult play dates," and the like.

Saraina and Liz--very fun, great conversations going on everywhere and nice venue for such a gathering! Hopefully, you will host another one soon.

Hi Nadja! My company designs and produces sewn product, both locally and in China. We are also looking at India as a source. If you are interested in chatting about our on-the-ground experiences, who we use and why, and local shops, as well as learning about the local network for manufacturers I am setting up, please get in touch with me.

gretchen@paceasy.com 206-762-1935

Elizabeth, it was a great event and I met such great people! I hope to make it to the next one.

Welcome from a fellow manufacturer. I would be interested in chatting with you about how you support your distributors. Were you at the National Hardware Show this year, or do you work strictly through distributors?

Mine's been quite a roller coaster ride, but a really fun one! What are you planning to do?