Maybe you are a morning person. You could be a nigh owl. Maybe you are your most energetic somewhere in the middle. Back in university, I liked sleeping in until 10AM but would start writing papers at 11PM after my roommates went to bed (or were out on the town). It took me the first two years of university before I realized that I didn’t have to attend 8AM classes. Knowing my natural ‘power hours’ was one of the most important things I did during my educational years.

In business, it’s the same. If you are tapped out by 5PM and can’t face anything other than take out and American Idol, let alone a networking event, then don’t book to go to networking events after 5. There is an abundance of network building opportunities throughout the day. In Seattle, there are networking events that happen at 6AM and 7AM. Then others at 1130AM through to 2PM. There are also a lot of after work events (5PM on). I travel from city to city and there are litearally dozens of events each week at each time of the day. I used to be a night own, but now, I like the morning events. I’m the person that at 5PM, I’m ready to head home and hang up the briefcase.

If you think you have to get up early but are dragging your butt, that’s going to show. If you have put in a full day and then show up for a cocktail party at 730AM wishing you were in bed, others are going to know. Business development is about showing yourself in the best light at the best time of day. You don’t want to be out and about feeling 50% (either too tired to show well or not having fully come awake yet.) Decide when you are at your best and look at events that support that time. If you aren’t feeling 100%, you are wasting the opportunity to connect with prospective clients, colleagues, referral partners, champions and strategic alliances.

Square peg in a square hole. Make time serve you rather than you serving time.

All the best,

Chris.

www.GhostCEO.com