Do any of you get a little nervous before networking calls?

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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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.

 

It's gotten better as I've done more, but yeah that feeling nervous is always there to some extent.

 

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. 

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