Serious question, I just hit 50 connections from one coffee shop meetup

I went to a small tech meetup at a spot in Midtown last Tuesday, just a casual thing. I figured I'd maybe get a few new contacts, but I ended up talking to so many different people, from startup founders to a couple of devs from a big company. I followed up with everyone the next day, and my LinkedIn just ticked over to 50 new connections from that single event. It really surprised me because I usually only get a handful. It shows how much just showing up and talking to EVERYONE can pay off, not just the people you think are important. The vibe was just really open. Has anyone else had a single event blow up their network like that here in Atlanta?

3 comments

3 Comments

ruby_bell4718h ago

That's a great point about talking to everyone, not just the "targets." Makes me wonder how many good connections I've missed by being too focused at events.

robin89614h ago

Honestly, the worst part is when you realize the person you ignored by the coffee table was the exact expert you needed. I once brushed past a guy in a silly t-shirt to chase a CEO, only to find out later that t-shirt guy invented the tech my whole project was based on. Felt like such a fool.

rose_clark8112h ago

Ever think we'd have better luck if we just stopped making lists of "important people" before we even walk in the door?