This week I attended a networking group that I found on Huddle Mind. I dropped by the Newlands Sun and met up with a group of dynamic people who regularly meet as part of the Net Web group. We got to hear some great guest speakers, Brenda van Straaten is the founder of New Clear Energy and Jo Duxbury, the founder of Freelance Central.

Before we closed there was a draw for some give aways and I got to win an annual subscription to Your Business Magazine. Now I have never seen or recognized this magazine in the shops before but have found it very useful with some good articles and helpful hints for small business owners.

I will be chatting to Liz Black to see if we can get a special subscription rate or marketing deal for our members. But in the mean time drop by your local news agent and pick up a copy, great article on page 78.

I attend a fair amount of business networking sessions, normally around a good breakfast as we get to listen to a keynote speaker, words from the sponsor and a time to chat to others at your table to swap cards and make new connections. Just a normal start to any other day for a entrepreneur.

But I have noticed recently that Cape Town, and I can only speak for my own city, has shown a huge decline in attendance at these events. We have grown complacent, lazy and adopted a do not care attitude towards such events. If small business owners only realized the huge potential of successful networking and developing new leads we would be camping out all night just to secure our seat.

Absent from work without excuse

This was just one of many empty seats at today’s network breakfast. It could have been yours if you had bothered to get out of bed, it could have lead to new business for either you or myself. Access to my network is sought after by many who pay good money, you missed it all for free, by not being present. Lets wake up Cape Town and attend the functions we rsvp to and get networking.