Nostalgia for In-Person Networking

From 1992 to 2010, I regularly attended the monthly meetings of the Mid-Atlantic Consultants Network (MACN) in Malvern, Villanova, and Wayne. I volunteered to help market the group and became an active member, growing the group from a handful to 110 consultants.

Out of nostalgia, I am taking the lead to organize the “reunion” of our group on April 5 by way of a breakfast meeting at The Pyramid Club in Center City. This short write-up is a prelude to our forthcoming get-together event.

I can cite five benefits for my being part of MACN during those 18 years.

Sociability. I founded my consulting practice in 1983 and for 10 years I worked alone. The isolation became too much. I noticed in the Tuesday business calendar of the Philadelphia Inquirer and knew of the consultants’ network. I fell for the group in my first meeting in 1992 because it gave me the camaraderie of being part of a group of like-minded people. When you practice a craft on your own, it pays to go out and mingle with people.

Professional Knowhow. I learned something new every time I attended a MACN meeting from my fellow consultants. We were diverse in what we specialized in. Everyone has a relevant story to tell along with a practical, timely lesson. Whether it is about prospecting, proposal writing, keeping a good client, billing strategies, or how to author a book, there were so many new things to learn from one another.

Keeping Up with Fashion. One of the meetings in 1996 focused on whether it would look professional for us consultants to add an email address on a business card. Don’t forget that the concept of an email was brand new. The funny @ symbol was scary.

Winning New Clients. I did not make it a goal to sell to my fellow consultants. In fact, all of us avoided the appearance of selling to one another. We had to introduce ourselves to one another so that we could improve our marketing methods. In fact, the many discussions on how to market our respective services, skills, and expertise gave me the inspiration for producing my “three-word-drill.” The latter means that we should train ourselves in conveying what we do best for summarizing our set skills into three words. I produced the name of my practice ‘Asia Marketing and Management’ in the process. Meanwhile, while I did not mean to get clients from my fellow consultants, I got clients through them because they put me in touch with their own clients.

Gaining New Friends and Confidants. An intangible and non-monetary benefit is that I’ve found quite a few lasting friendly relationships with some of the people in the group. We’re bound to run into like-minded people in whom we can confide. The many vicissitudes of a consulting life require that we have someone with whom we can share secrets, get frank advice and often succor. I thank all of you who have contributed to the success of my practice. Thank you.