My Pinnacle Network

Grow Your Business Through Networking

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Before and after: The best part of a meeting?

This one is an oldie but goody for almost all networking groups:

photo of empty conference room for a networking group

Arrive 15 minutes early. Plan on staying at least 15 minutes after the meeting ends.

There are many benefits to this strategy. Here are a few:

  • Being one of the first gives you time to network with the meeting host or early attendees. The host will typically be a well-connected person.
  • Other people arriving early are also guests or people you might have not met before, each with an address book of names of people you may not yet know.
  • It establishes your commitment to the group. It’s human nature but people do notice who is usually early or just on time.
  • During somebody’s verbal brand/elevator pitch you may have thought of a possible lead or intro. Planning on staying late gives you time to follow up.
  • One-on-ones – Set them up at the meeting. Waiting to set up a one-on-one until your back in the office leaves opportunity for it to slide through the cracks.
  • Staying later gives you the opportunity to catch up to talk to people who may have showed up as meeting/event started.

The time before and after a networking event provides a rare window of opportunity to learn more about people, set up meetings and increase your exposure to like-minded B2B professionals. Sure, you can call, text or e-mail the people in your networking group in between meetings. But more often than not, you will get the most out of these folks when they are right in front you—either at the meeting or at a one-on-one.

The tip here is leave yourself enough time before and after the meeting—at least 15 minutes—so you have the best opportunity to optimize the real-time human resources you have in front of you.

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My Pinnacle Network announces December 2019 schedule of B2B networking meetings.

My Pinnacle Network recently announced a full slate of business-to-business networking meetings for December. My Pinnacle Network meetings are as follows:

My Pinnacle Network – Westborough, Tuesday, December 3, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at Digital Federal Credit Union, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

My Pinnacle Network – Mansfield, Wednesday, December 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Mansfield BioIncubator, 241 Francis Avenue, Mansfield, MA 02048.

My Pinnacle Network – Pembroke, Thursday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., ACTSmart Training Center, 70 Corporate Park Drive, Suite 1225, Pembroke, MA 02359.

My Pinnacle Network – Needham, Thursday, December 12, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at Bullfinch Group, 160 Gould Street, Needham, MA 02494.

My Pinnacle Network – Braintree Third Thursday, Thursday, December 19, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 100 Grandview Road, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Braintree, MA 02184.

Only one B2B professional will be selected for each category. Those categories can be found at bottom of http://www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. Prospective members are encouraged to attend a My Pinnacle Network meeting before committing to join.

If you are interested in attending a meeting in your area, please contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061 to RSVP. There is no charge to visit a My Pinnacle Network meeting.

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Is there a greater network?

It’s Veteran’s Day. We thank all veterans for their service to our great country. Thank you.

In writing that sentence, another thought comes to mind. Is there a greater network than our veterans?

Think about it. There’s an instant bond whenever two vets meet. It could be two entirely different branches of service. Their time in the service could be decades apart. It doesn’t matter. The bond of being willing to put your life on the line for your country ties these men and women together forever.

Now, there’s no comparing a networking group to veterans. That’s pure folly. Yet in running networking groups like we have over the past seven years, it’s difficult not to admire the veterans for more than their service, but their commitment to each other.

Happy Veterans Day. To our members who also served in our armed forces, Thank you.

Who is the veteran who comes to mind first when you think of Veteran’s Day? Post your gratitude on our Facebook page.

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November location for My Pinnacle Network-Pembroke meeting

For the November 7 meeting only, My Pinnacle Network-Pembroke will meet at 20 Corporate Park Drive, Suite 170-180, Pembroke, MA. The meeting will begin at 9am as usual. The photo here shows the exterior of the building, with the meeting site circled.

My Pinnacle Network-Pembroke will return to its regular meeting site, ACTSmartIT, in December.

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My Pinnacle Network announces November 2019 schedule of B2B networking meetings.


My Pinnacle Network hosts B2B networking meetings in Braintree, Mansfield, Needham, Pembroke and Westborough.

My Pinnacle Network recently announced a full slate of business-to-business networking meetings for November. My Pinnacle Network meetings are as follows:

My Pinnacle Network – Westborough, Tuesday, November 5, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at Digital Federal Credit Union, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

My Pinnacle Network – Mansfield, Wednesday, November 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Mansfield BioIncubator, 241 Francis Avenue, Mansfield, MA 02048.

My Pinnacle Network – Pembroke, Thursday, November 7, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., ACTSmart Training Center, 70 Corporate Park Drive, Suite 1225, Pembroke, MA 02359.

My Pinnacle Network – Needham, Thursday, November 14, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at Bullfinch Group, 160 Gould Street, Needham, MA 02494.

My Pinnacle Network – Braintree Third Thursday, Thursday, November 21, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 100 Grandview Road, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Braintree,
MA 02184.

Only one B2B professional will be selected for each category. Those categories can be found at bottom of http://www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. Prospective members are encouraged to attend a My Pinnacle Network meeting before committing to join.

If you are interested in attending a meeting in your area, please contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061 to RSVP. There is no
charge to visit a My Pinnacle Network meeting.

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Sit or stand

Before you start saying that’s a bit of a personal question, we’re talking about networking meetings. And the question revolves around whether or not to sit or stand when you give your verbal brand (formerly known as elevator pitch). Yours truly took a little different approach the other day at My Pinnacle Network-Westborough’s meeting and not only stood but invited the group to do so as well.

That begs the question as to whether or not it is better to sit or stand when you give your verbal brand?

My Pinnacle Network is different from many other groups for a number of reasons. The most obvious is that we’re strictly for business-to-business professionals and business owners whose customers are other businesses. Another is that while we do offer a meeting structure, we try to be flexible in terms of the amount of time you take for your verbal brand. Along those lines, you can sit or stand.

No matter what you choose, you do want to take several things in mind before you stand or sit. 

First, you want to make sure you are both seen and heard. If chairs are in a horseshoe and you’re sitting on either end of the shoe, some might not be able to see you and that could impact how well they listen.

Second, standing or sitting, you still want to make eye contact with people in the room as you present. Again, you can do that sitting or standing. Just remember to do it.

Speak loudly so that everyone can hear. One of the benefits of standing up is that it is physiologically easier to speak louder than when you are seated. Something about being stretched that makes it so.

Finally, don’t succumb to peer pressure. If you prefer standing when you present and the rest of the group sits, you should still stand when it’s time to deliver your verbal brand. Or vice versa. 

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My Pinnacle Network announces October 2019 schedule of B2B networking meetings.

My Pinnacle Network recently announced a full slate of business-to-business networking meetings for October. My Pinnacle Network meetings are as follows:

My Pinnacle Network – Westborough, Tuesday, October 1, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at Digital Federal Credit Union, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

My Pinnacle Network – Mansfield, Wednesday, October 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Mansfield BioIncubator, 241 Francis Avenue, Mansfield, MA 02048.

My Pinnacle Network – Pembroke, Thursday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., ACTSmart Training Center, 70 Corporate Park Drive, Suite 1225, Pembroke, MA 02359.

My Pinnacle Network – Needham, Thursday, October 10, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at Bullfinch Group, 160 Gould Street, Needham, MA 02494.

My Pinnacle Network – Braintree Third Thursday, Thursday, October 17, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 100 Grandview Road, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Braintree, MA 02184.

Only one B2B professional will be selected for each category. Those categories can be found at bottom of http://www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. Prospective members are encouraged to attend a My Pinnacle Network meeting before committing to join.

If you are interested in attending a meeting in your area, please contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061 to RSVP. There is no charge to visit a My Pinnacle Network meeting.

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Can’t remember names?

It’s not an unusual problem to have. Even though remembering names can be a great advantage in networking. So, what do you? You may want to try this technique.

First, introduce yourself to the person at the networking event. Instead of asking what they do or another mundane conversation starter, ask them to name something they like that’s starts with the first letter of their first name.

That’s right. Ask them to name something they like that starts with the first letter of their first name. Explain that it’s a technique you’re trying out to better remember people’s names. Then demonstrate with example:

“My name is Joe D’Eramo and I’m a joker.”

It’s even better if you can tie your reminder in with your business.

Two things can now happen. The person can play along and come up with something. Or, they might decline and move on. Actually, a third thing might be that you come up with a name for them and they either approve or suggest an alternative.

This exercise accomplishes a few things. First, it does give you a reminder of the person’s name. The person I learned this from, someone who leads guided kayak tours, claims she’s been able to remember every person’s name from the past five years.

Second, you just made yourself very memorable to the person you just met. He/she will know you as the one who had that crazy idea about remembering names.

Ideally, both happen. Yet the real goal is that taking part in this exercise makes the other person smile and leads to a conversation that evolves into what each of you do, who you are looking to meet, etc.

Give it a try at your next meeting or event.

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My Pinnacle Network announces September 2019 schedule of B2B networking meetings.

My Pinnacle Network recently announced a full slate of business-to-business networking meetings for September. My Pinnacle Network meetings are as follows:

My Pinnacle Network-Westborough, Tuesday, September 3, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at Digital Federal Credit Union, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

My Pinnacle Network-Mansfield, Wednesday, September 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Mansfield BioIncubator, 241 Francis Avenue, Mansfield, MA 02048.

My Pinnacle Network-Pembroke, Thursday, September 5, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., ACTSmart Training Center, 70 Corporate Park Drive, Suite 1225, Pembroke, MA 02359.

My Pinnacle Network-Needham, Thursday, September 12, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at Bullfinch Group, 160 Gould Street, Needham, MA 02494.

My Pinnacle Network-Braintree Third Thursday, Thursday, September 19, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at 100 Grandview Road, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Braintree, MA 02184.

Only one B2B
professional will be selected for each category. Those categories can be found
at bottom of http://www.mypinnaclenetwork.com. Prospective members are
encouraged to attend a My Pinnacle Network meeting before committing to join.

If you are
interested in attending a meeting in your area, please contact Steven V. Dubin
at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com
or 781-582-1061 to RSVP. There is no charge to visit a My Pinnacle Network
meeting.

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Grip it, don’t rip it. The professional handshake.

You can tell a lot about a person by his/her handshake. More importantly, there are a lot of people who will form their impression of you from your handshake. So, you want to take that into consideration before putting out your hand.

For example, you want to offer a firm handshake with fingers extended (web to web) rather than clumped together. Avoid the dead fish handshake but don’t go overboard with a bone crusher.

Beyond your shaking style, be sure to shake hands in the proper order. For example, if you’re introduced to the ownership team of the company, be sure to shake the hand of the owner before the intern.

Always shake hands standing up. If you are seated and somebody approaches you, stand up to shake his/her hand.

Here are some other tips:

  • Shake up and down only, no back and forth
  • Keep it brief, 2-3 seconds
  • Stand still when you shake, never walking or on the move
  • High and dry; better to wipe your sweaty palm dry.
  • Add a greeting and remember a name; “Nice to meet you, Bob” as you shake hands. It will help you remember first names.
  • Make eye contact, even throw a smile in there to deepen your first impression.

Now, if you know a person and you see them at an event, you may want to get a little more casual with a fist pump, high-five or forearm bang. If you must, that’s okay. Same with business hugs and the double check air kiss. Yet if it’s not somebody you know and you want to present in a more formal way, you’re pretty much always better off playing it safe and shaking hands.