Am I the only one lol? I have done a lot of these but I still get butterflies and tightness in my chest before I do one, goes away once the call starts and I can also speak well, but it’s just kinda silly it still happens.
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*OP clarified below
My bad lol, forgot a word in the title. Just asking if I’m the only one that gets nervous before a networking call.
Lol didn't know if it was "get nervous" or "get high" before networking calls.
And to answer, yes I do because usually you haven't met the person or the person was a reference, so you want to be on point from the get go. But this is all before the call, once you get to talking, your nerves should subside. They know why you are calling so don't trip yourself up. Try to have a genuine conversation like you would with your friends, but it's industry/business related. I think if you can start the call with something off-topic to networking, but related to the both of you always helps break the ice. Something about their background you found interesting or even "I just got back from x after some much needed covid R&R, have you gone anywhere recently?". Then the conversation naturally progresses from there and it doesn't feel like a structured networking call.
When you feel like you’re doing something important, it’s pretty natural to feel that way
spice up your networking calls with MDMA
Dude I straight up took a few shots 20 min before one once, and that did not end well lmfao
Normal.
It gets better over time but it never goes away
It's gotten better as I've done more, but yeah that feeling nervous is always there to some extent.
yeah like before an exam when you need a nerve poo.
I have an exam in an hour lmao, I know what you mean.
I would say it depends if I cold emailed the person or was referred from another contact. In the latter situation I do get nervous because messing up will look poorly on someone else, not just myself. In the first case, not really because I have nothing to lose.
For sure, there’s the opportunity to pass/fail and that always carries some anxiety. If you didn’t feel anything it would mean you don’t care.
Best thing for me is to have some pregame routine once my background research is all arranged but before I hit call.
i used to but the more i do it, the more i treat it like a casual conversation and now its super easy
Yeah, no matter how prepared I am I feel nervous but after about 30 seconds into the call I feel fine pretty much every time.
It's kind of strange to say this but I networked with the CFO of a $100 bn company and I wasn't all that nervous before or during the call but I've spoken with IB analysts and been freaking out before or during it.
Dude take a shot before hand and have fun. Build a relationship, like you would with a friend. Don't treat it like work or you wan't enjoy it.
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