Long Island business is not just about making the best product, providing the best service or advertising to find the best buyers. It is also about networking- networking that creates relationships which will lead to the best vendors, more buyers, and better resources for your business. Networking on Long Island takes place at business group meetings, civic association meetings, charitable group meetings, religious group meetings and even at the regular Friday night “meetings” at the local pub. For the serious business networker, it can be overwhelming. For every breakfast, lunch and dinner meeting (aka “lunch, munch and brunch”) you go to, there are hundreds more that you’re missing. The most effective networkers manage all this activity to be productive and rewarding while maintaining a balance with office and family time.

After almost thirty years of business related networking on Long Island, I have finally figured out the parameters which make my networking make sense. Here are my suggestions for making the most of the “lunch, munch and brunch” circuit:

Rule Number 1: It must be fun! Life is too short- eat dessert first. Given the busy lives we all have, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to be spending significant time at activities which are painful, boring or downright depressing. So, choose networking opportunities which will put some enjoyment into your life.

Rule Number 2: It must provide self satisfaction/fulfillment. It has to make me feel good about myself and what I’m doing. That’s why I don’t stay too long with groups where I’m just a member or casual participant. As an “A type” personality, I am more interested when I commit to a group and become active- conducting projects, servicing on committees, providing a guidance role. When I’m active in the group, I can feel personally satisfied that I’ve accomplished something.

Rule Number 3:  Accomplishing something per rule number 2 is meaningless unless you’re accomplishing something that benefits someone else. So Rule Number 3 is  that the organization or activity must provide benefits to others. Whether it is a philanthropic activity or a business activity,  at the end of the day, we all need to feel we’re helping each other.

Rule Number 4: It must provide a tangible benefit for my business or me personally. Does it provide real leads for vendors or new customers? Does it provide resources that help me improve my business or personal life? Only a Saint can sustain committed involvement that benefits others and not  him/herself. I’m no Saint.

Rule Number 5: I must be able to provide something significant to the effort- expertise, energy or resources which will help the effort as a whole. This relates back to  Rules 2 and 3- when I can provide something significant it helps me feel good about myself and it positively affects others.
Rule Number 6:  It must blend well with all my other activities and how I spend my time in general. Networking for business, charity or other purposes takes a lot of time. There are only so many hours in a day and in a lifetime. The best business networking is the kind that also fills social needs and  helps improve your family life while it is benefiting your business.

Rule Number 7:  It must be fun!  When your involvement provides you more stress or  drudgery, it is time to move on. Of course, it is not always easy to admit  that time has come and saying no is an art in itself.

So, be wise in networking-for business, pleasure or philanthropy-and you will not only get more benefit from it, but be more effective. Managing the “lunch,munch and brunch” circuit productively means establishing and following your own rules.