If you go to a networking meetings or Chamber of Commerce Mixer it is indeed important to get to know everyone and not necessarily launch into a full court press sales pitch, as that does get a little annoying and that is no way to win friends and influence people at all.

Nevertheless, too much idle chitchat about the weather and you are liable to lose your audience. Most superstar entrepreneurs and those who are running fast moving companies are not interested in endless chitchat. In fact you are probably very lucky if they are in attendance in the first place.

If you are well-spoken that is a good thing and yet too many people use this skill incorrectly and will take about; he said, she said for way too long. Or discuss the weather, nice day isn’t it? Indeed it is. Yes, but remember last week? Oh yes I sure do. When this sort of stuff goes on and on for 10-20 minutes, it is like, get away from me! You know what I mean?

So, it behooves you to move the conversation along otherwise you look linear, stupid and certainly not someone of interest or anyone they would wish to do business with. How about those Yankees? Sure great opener, but this does not mean you need to talk about baseball for the next 30-minutes. I hope you will consider this in 2006 and understand its importance at your next networking opportunity.