The relationship between optimism, pessimism and the economic downturn is a fascinating one.  I’ve blogged before about how some American thinkers have tried to blame the recession on a surplus of optimism, untempered by the sense of realism that pessimism brings.  But it now seems that too much pessimism is bad for you too.  In fact, increasingly, the US is positively – or should that be negatively? – drowning in it.

A recent article in the business section of the Wall Street Journal warns that a polarised and pessimistic US is a big threat.  Hardly a major insight.  What is informative, however, are the reasons why US economic pessimism is on the increase.  Two reasons are suggested:

“The big question is why have Americans become so pessimistic? The most striking explanation is political polarisation. Many Americans at both ends of the spectrum are actually hoping for a double dip, since this will discredit the Obama administration … Another reason for US pessimism is that national prosperity is dependent on the world economy as never before, and acknowledging this is proving traumatic.”

National party politics and American stress due to globalisation – not much we can do about either of these, is there?  Go here to read the perspective of British journal Mark Mardell.  If you want to get a taste of how sharply divisive all this is, take a read at the hundreds of comments.

Or maybe not.  Reading the might make you, well, pessimistic…

Whatever, it seems that from the far side of the Atlantic, we’re not done with (the) depression yet.

Image credit: Beverly & Pack.

My name is Dawn Baird, and I’m an introvert.  I would even say, an extreme introvert.  Where did this first manifest itself?  School – that place of daily torture for those who aren’t sporty, arty, academic, amusing or loud.  What unthinking labels did people condemn me with? Shy.  Stand-offish.  Quiet.

It took well into my twenties to stop punishing myself with their words.  It wasn’t until I met The Sensei that I began to realise that being introverted is OK.  It’s not a disease. Neither is extraversion.

Lest there be any misunderstanding, introversion and extraversion need defined.

An introvert is someone…

…whose energy comes from within and who is satisfied with their own company; utter boredom is rare.  They are not necessarily quiet, though some are.  But, then they are not usually the centre of attention either.  They may strongly prefer to be alone; alternatively they may like regular company, but of their own choosing, and often limited.  But, they will normally feel exhausted after hours in the company of others, especially in large, loud groups.  They may or may not be a Highly Sensitive Person.  I am greatly emotionally affected by music, smells, places, memories, the atmosphere in a room and the emotions of others; this can be occasionally debilitating and embarrassing.  Introverts may read or listen to music frequently or enjoy creating with their hands.  They will generally demonstrate longer attention spans than average, and find it easier to get into the flow.

An extrovert is someone…

…whose energy comes from being in company with others and who is agitated or bored if left alone for long periods of time.  They are normally talkative, often viewed as overly confident and perhaps loud or even brash.  (There’s nothing wrong with that I tell myself repeatedly, so as not to judge.)  They revel in the excitement, activity and buzz of large groups; some will enjoy being the centre of attention.  They may or may not be a Highly Sensitive Person.  They will most likely be an activities person, rather than an avid reader.  Extraverts are often fans of the outdoors, especially for playing competitive or group sports.  (Introverts who love the outdoors will go for long walks either alone, or with a single companion.)  Attention spans are generally shorter; distractions are part of daily life.

So, how can an Introvert excel at networking?

Don’t do Slick; Do Friendly

Friendliness is achievable by anyone.  You don’t need to be slick.  Anyway, slick is out; personable is in.  When you’re engaged in a conversation, the other person will see smiles and nodding; they will hear “Oh?”, “Wow!” and “Tell me more.” throughout.  They will respond to your interested questions; and feel connected when you reveal little, non-threatening details about yourself.  You will feel more comfortable next time with that person, as they will with you.  Perhaps it will lead to a phonecall, and that will feel less like cold-calling than normal.

Clues?  Smile.  Look and sound interested.  Ask open questions.  Reveal a little of yourself.  Don’t try to be the corporate that you’re not.  Be yourself, only friendlier.  If you find this extremely draining, go to short networking meetings.  Breakfast meetings are probably best for you, as they tend to be short.

Do It Online

Involve yourself in conversations that are happening online via Twitter and Facebook, for example.  People will get to see a little more of you.  This is called self-disclosure.  Reveal your opinions on things related to the business world.  (Avoid offending people, when you can.)  When people get to know you, they will refer you and your product or service.  This happens, even with those who have never bought from us.  You know when someone sounds passionate and conscientious about what they’re delivering to the customer; it’s easier to refer such people, than those you’ve never had a conversation with.

When you feel ready, start a few new conversations yourself, with your own blog, or speaking engagement at an event you know will be frequented by those you wish to engage.  Toastmasters is a great way to get comfortable with public speaking, in a completely non-threatening environment. Everyone there is at some stage on the learning ladder, and reviewers are encouraged to avoid negative comments, focusing instead on the positive.

Do It Casual

Think about the more informal (and often smaller) Open Coffee, BarCamp, or TweetUps, if you’re entirely new to networking, or feel overcome at the thought of attending a large gathering,.  Open Coffee (and the like) is a movement akin to Open Source, according to our own Mark Nagurski.  It’s a networking event, organised by local business owners.  I help to run one in Magherafelt, Mid-Ulster – see this explanation for details.  There is no central organisation, just an idea that business people and entrepreneurs should get together for coffee and a chat; collaboration; sharing access to their network of business contracts; making referrals; and informal mentoring and advice.  The event is not defined in advance; attendees create it “on the fly”.  I love it!  See how to set up your own here.

BizCamp is the place to be for the ultimate, low-key, non-pressured networking experience.  Wear what you want; stay for as long as you wish; speak or not; share ideas and ask for advice.  These events are about as far away from the old networking model I experienced when I first set up shop, characterized by mediocre, bored speakers; a room full of (mainly older) people I’d never met (online or offline); and pinstripe suits.  The relaxed nature of the atmosphere, schedule, food and speakers lends itself to easy networking.  Check out BarCamp if you have technology bent – it’s pretty similar.

Do It Yourself

One on one networking meetings can be very effective.  There need be no particular agenda, except getting to know the person and their business, including who they might have worked with and for and what their future plans are.  If you’re going to ask a lot of questions, be prepared to be open and answer a few yourself.  This type of meeting better prepares you for referring that person to someone else.  And, once you begin referring people, be prepared for the welcome avalanche of reciprocal referrals that follows.

Our experience is that networking with “connectors” (people who seem to know everyone) is good for us.  We not only get to know them, but they are adept at picking out what may be interesting in our business, for someone they know.  These types tend to remember what you do, they’ll read your blog before they meet you, they will have checked out your LinkedIn profile before the meeting too.  You should always prepare before attending any type of networkring, to get the best use out of your time.  BNI has famously been encouraging this type of targeted networking, called “one-on-ones”, and members rave about their effectiveness.

Do It On the Sly

Seek out opportunities at business seminars, training events, or trade shows, to engage with other attendees.  Start up a conversation in the coffee queue!  Who knows where it may lead?  This is networking on the sly.  Often, people are not there to network specifically, but it does no harm to start a few conversations, or bring along some flyers and business cards.  You’ll be remembered as “You know… Dave, the guy I met at the Email Marketing event?”.  Be helpful at such events.  Solve a problem for someone; volunteer a new supplier; suggest a new marketing approach.

Introverts need not fear.  Networking is possible, even though you may find a room full of people daunting.  Working alone, especially for the many SMEs in Northern Ireland, can be a lonely journey.  Introversion can emphasize that.  These tactics should help you to increase your circle of useful contacts, advisors and encouragers, and investigate new opportunities, in a manner that is comfortable for you.  I guarantee that this will also result in lifelong business friendships.

Who is this Director?  Barry Philips, Director of local company Legal Island, that’s who!  And how can you beat him to win your £1000 prize?  Read on and find out!

So who are you and what do you do for a living?

I’m Barry Phillips and I guess I would classify myself as an entrepreneur. I originally qualified as a barrister in 1993 and worked first in criminal law in London, before specialising in employment law in Northern Ireland and Ireland. It was during this latter period that I saw an opportunity to provide training and information on employment law issues and twelve years ago I set up a company called Legal-Island in Antrim. Since then we’ve grown into the leading employment law training and information company on the island of Ireland and we’re still growing. Each year we call on the services of more than 100 lawyers and HR experts to deliver seminars and speak at large conferences, addressing key developments relevant to the world of work.

Tell us about the latest challenge you set yourself.

At the end of 2009 I became really interested in memory and how the mind works. From this initial interest I felt compelled to delve a little deeper, and the more I read on the subject of memory the more interested I became. One thing led to another and here I am today, offering up to 10 prizes of £1000 each to anyone able to beat me at memorising at standard pack of 52 playing cards. We’ve called this competition ‘Beat the Director’ and we hope to have a diverse group of people enter the competition – everyone from business men to teenagers still at school are more than welcome to enter (as long as they meet the entry criteria).

Why did you get interested in developing your memory?

Towards the end of last year, I realised I was forgetting things more frequently than I had done previously, for example, names of contacts I met at networking events, dates and some information I received at meetings. I started reading on the subject and techniques on improving the memory and the mind. This really ignited my interest in the subject of memory. A friend recommended Derren Brown’s book, Tricks of the Mind, which provided me with a useful insight into the power of the mind. This book also contained some tips on how to remember the sequence of a pack of playing cards, and from this, the ‘Beat the Director’ competition came about.

What method do you use for memorising a pack of cards?

Well, Allen, I really struggled with this at the beginning, and I wasn’t confident that it would all come together for me, but the more and more I practiced the easier and more natural it became. I use a system called the ‘location system’, which involves 26 locations around the town and placing 2 cards in each of these.

Basically, I have mentally attached an image to each playing card, for example, the ‘Ace of Clubs’ is a Policeman and the ‘2 of Clubs’ is a toothbrush. I have refined this technique over the last number of months so that I now have 52 images in my mind, all of which relate to a specific card from the pack. Each time I shuffle the cards and begin memorising, I begin my journey around Antrim town (and more specifically my route to work). I then place the cards in each location depending on where in the pack they fall, for example, location number 25 is the level crossing close to the Legal-Island offices. I then tell myself a story about my journey and try to establish why each person (card) is in the location (card position in pack).

Sometimes the cards fall in the perfect order, for example, the Policeman is in the Police Station, but other times it takes a little more imagination than this, like when I have to explain to myself why the Policeman with a toothbrush is standing at my front door!

How will the competition itself work? What is each participant actually expected to do?

Participants will come to the Legal-Island Training Centre on Saturday 26th June, where they’ll be able to meet me before the competition starts. During the competition, each participant will receive a randomly shuffled pack of 52 playing cards which they’ll have 5 minutes to memorise. When this memorisation time has finished, each participant will be asked to verbally recall the cards in the order in which they appeared within the pack. They’ll be independently adjudicated by a member of the Northern Ireland Alzheimer’s Society – just to ensure the same set of rules are applied to everyone. Up to 10 people will have the opportunity to win £1000 each if they can beat my score. Details on the scoring system can be found at www.beatthedirector.com.

Can anyone enter? 

The ‘Beat the Director’ competition is open to anyone who was born in, or is a current resident of Northern Ireland, although any competitor must be 16 years or older by 5th June 2010 as there is a cash prize at stake. To enter this competition, or to see the rules and terms & conditions of entry, please go to www.beatthedirector.com. There is an entry fee of £30, all of which will be donated to the Northern Ireland Alzheimer’s Society, which we feel is a very worthwhile cause, and one which is very relevant to the competition! As I have stated before, everyone falling within this remit is more than welcome to register online and come along to the competition on Saturday 26th June at the Legal-Island Training Centre.

Are you worried about losing lots of money?

This is a risky competition, but one we feel is worthwhile. Obviously, there is the potential to lose £10,000, a lot of money in the current economic climate, however, after lengthy discussions with a number of members of staff, we are happy that this is a good way to both raise awareness of Legal-Island as well as promote the excellent work done by the Northern Ireland Alzheimer’s Society. It is the risk and potential reward involved with the competition that makes it so exciting. In a competition, as we all know, anything can happen, so I’ll have to wait until the day to see how I perform.

Any memory tips that we could all use?

The ‘Beat the Director’ website also contains a link to a memory tools website, and we’ve also developed a ‘Memory Card Challenge Game’, in which people will be asked to memorise 7 cards in 30 seconds, which will then disappear. The challenge is then to place these cards seen previously in the correct order from the selection given. Sounds easy? Give it a go to see how good your memory is! If any participants get all 7 correct they’ll be entered into a draw to win a copy of Derren Brown’s Tricks of the Mind book.

Thanks Barry.  All the best!

Imaged credit: Refracted Moments™.