Don't be a Networking Novice Reprinted with permission from Floral Management, April 2002 So you've joined the Chamber of Commerce and are ready to make the networking opportunities pay off in the new corporate business. A potential client casually asks "What's new?" with your shop. If your typical answer is, "Not much, been busy", you are not getting much out of your chamber membership. Before you go to your next networking event – where you will inevitably be asked some version of the "What's new?" question – plan on responding with a "SUCCESS" story, say Anne Barber and Lynne Waymon, authors of "Make of Your Contacts Count." Prepare these elements to your story: S = Strategic. Make sure your anecdote fits your agenda. Think about what you want people to know about you and your business and build your story around that point. If your goal is to expand event work, chat with a hotel manager and work in an example of your event expertise. U = Unique. Point out what makes you stand out from the crowd. If you have just landed a big hotel account in town, tell people about it. C = Clear. Eliminate professional jargon in conver-sation. C = Concrete. Give details in your conversation to help people see a vivid picture. E = Exciting. Let your enthusiasm for what you do shine through. Use vivid language, an upbeat tone of voice and delivery. Make it memorable. S = Short. Keep your story to a maximum of three sentences. S = Service-Oriented. Be sure that your story illustrates how well served the client, solved the problem or saved the day.