Regardless of your network marketing business affiliation or your pastime passion, you have a big event conference that you can attend sometime during the year. Some affiliations have only one per year, while others may have two or three. The main point, here, is that you have these tools at your disposal for your guidance and education.

Each Big Event is preceded with advertising and promotion of the event. You begin to feel the excitement and the anticipation. You plan ahead, making the flight arrangements and hotel reservations.

As you arrive, you discover it may have been even bigger than you had expected, and you may begin to feel like a grain of sand in the sandpile. Perhaps a bit of anxiety or insecurity begins to set in, thinking perhaps you shouldn't have come....

Big Events like these are a good source of guidance, inspiration, and education, as well as an excellent opportunity to meet new people. People just like you who want to succeed.

So approach your big event not so much as a networking assault, but as a friendshipping opportunity. Focus on making some new connections with people who share the same love and passions and goals ans dreams that you may have. See them as future friends instead of a sea of unfamiliar faces. Consider them as new friends rather than just potentially helpful contacts.

While you are at the conference, talk to as many people as you can. Even just saying "hello" with a smile opens up new friendships.

Remember: You are not in a "networking" mode, but a "friendshipping" mindset. You can connect with people so much easier by simply being open and letting go of all preconceived expectations.

And talk to everyone, from apparent beginners in your business to the seasoned professionals. You never know who is absolutely awesome until you try. Today's "nobody" may turn out to be a future success story, and their friendship might be helpful in your own personal growth.

A useful tip: When meeting new people at conferences, it's good to have an official way to share your own personal information. Make and take some business cards with you. It's so easy to print off a few business cards on your own computer. Personally, I make a color master and go to a local quick print place to copy them off on to card stock and cut them out.

When you exchange business cards, make a few simple notes on the back of the card they give you about that person. When you return home, you will have a handful of cards and you will find it so much easier to remember the people who gave them to you because of your notes on the back.

Be sure to arrive at the conference as early as possible. This gives you more opportunity to practice your friendshipping skills. Smile, say "hello", and ask a simple question. Then listen to what they have to say. Everyone appreciates someone who takes the time to listen. Perhaps you could even look for someone who appears to be more shy and alone than you are, and introduce yourself to them. They may want to have someone to hang out with at the event, and you can then both meet others, together. There's strength in numbers, you know, and it soon snowballs into a gathering of many new friends!

When the event is over and you get home, send off a note of appreciation to those who gave you cards and mention how nice it was to meet them. Then, keep in touch with those who keep in touch. It is these sustains friendships that sustain us in our efforts. And that is where the true "networking" begins.

One final note: You may find it particularly enlightening to be a volunteer at a "Big Event". There are never enough people to help run the show, and your willing services are greatly appreciated. Dealing one-on-one with the "big names" allows you to "rub shoulders" with the best. Be sure to do twice as much listening as you do talking, and you will learn incredible things!

So get ready for your next "Big Event". Make the necessary preparations and reservations, and get ready for some changes in your life. Wonderful changes!