Sep 292016
 

Phew, it is the end of the week at last and what a busy week it has been!

I have become quite the social butterfly. Who knew I had it in me? However, I must say that I feel extremely drained energetically and am on the verge of delirium as I am also not sleeping completely through the nights for some reason despite being fairly tired.

Anyway, the week began with an evening event with the International Women’s Business Group “Welcome Back Cocktail Reception”. M joined me for that since men were welcome for the first event. I must say it was a fairly easy event since the whole intent of it is really to network. So, I got a handful of new business cards, some expressions of interest in The OSH Network and generally meeting new peeps. Plus, the ‘free’ food and drink was not too bad. They did it well with a photo booth and a draw for some prize, which obviously I did not win or I would know what the prize was! πŸ˜›

Monday was my usual mall walking activity that has become a nice part of my weekly routine. I did not stay for coffee afterwards, though since I was not quite sure about it and had to get ready for my book club meeting that I mentioned in my Tuesday post. The book club was actually quite good and interesting. I have never attended one before and only have images from movies about what book club ladies do. While we did have a lively discussion around the book, we also got to know one another since there were quite a few new ladies there. I will definitely be going back. So that was a success.

Tuesday was free from networking, but I had two yoga sessions. One was my case study/client and one was a brand new paying client. My first ‘actual’ client! So, that was amazing and so great to reassure me that I am on the right path of what I am doing.

Wednesday was my return to golf. I joined the golfing group for beginners, which was a lot of fun. I met a few new ladies of my age as well as some to look up to for golfing. Although this was networking to a degree, the golf is really for my own socializing purposes. πŸ˜‰ In the evening, I went to a networking event, which was the first one on my very own with no one else around for me to fall back to. When I first arrived, though I met a really nice lady who was also new to the event, so we hung out the most. We made friends with a few friendly faces. I got more business cards this time and got to share my own business model around. So, that is progress!

Then, this morning, I went to Yas Mall again for the free yoga session there. Some of the Monday ladies were there as well, so we had coffee afterwards and I got to chat with some different people than usual. Overall, that was also good with another potential client. πŸ™‚

So, I give myself a HUGE pat on the back for the week. It is quite impressive for me to be out almost every night of the week and to be making efforts to connect with new people. However, I appreciate the need to spread my wings as I venture away from the world of academia and into the ‘other’. πŸ˜›

Now, I am looking forward to the long weekend and hoping for a long deep sleep!!!!

~T πŸ˜€

Sep 222016
 

Not too long ago I wrote about my initialΒ networking activities of late.

This morning I went to the American Women’s Network (AWN) coffee morning for the first time. Now when I first arrived I attended an AWN meeting, which was very different as it was in someone’s home with just a few people. After that event I swore to never to go another one, which I successfully did for the past eight years (almost). πŸ™ However, as I have said, I need to network and I have heard really nice things about the group and their activities, so I decided to give it a go as I have still stayed updated with their events.

It was an interesting event, indeed. They have grown to the point that now the event is held in a hotel ballroom. There are loads of ladies involved in different activities. They are well organized and have a speaker for each event. Today was about the Desert Diva trips in the ‘unchartered’ territories of the Arabian desert.

I met a lovely lady, a few others, an extremely rude and self-important lady and a familiar face within the two-hour period. I pushed myself to introduce myself to some of the ladies who are organizing the golf and book club that I am joining. Thus, I feel it was a success as a first networking event all on my own! πŸ˜‰

We shall see how we go next week as there are quite a few coming up that I will be attending. πŸ˜€

~T πŸ˜€

 

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