Waffle Wednesday: How to Network With Delicious Waffles
For a start-up, networking events are great way to introduce fellow businesses to your company, but also a way to introduce them to the double-sided waffle maker you purchased with your second round of seed money.
During my first shift in the office, after going over company culture, one of my co-workers casually told me, "Remember not to eat breakfast on Wednesdays." Confused, I responded:
"Because man, there are waffles. So... many... waffles."
I was hoping to use the summer as a time to pull back on my over-eating, but after my co-worker explained the blueberry-infused batter and maple syrup that I would soon enjoy, I began to imagine myself fully immersed in nothing but a mid-week waffle bliss. And, with each day in the office, I anticipated it more. I could not escape the thought of it--just walking to the water cooler I would overhear imaginary conversations like: "Dude, people just don't understand how good these waffles are. The first time I bit one it I started crying," and "There's a rumor that they're making freedom waffles next week--and that's awesome because we live in 'Merica... where we are free to just eat waffles and make beautiful websites."
Okay, I might be exaggerating my love for waffles and their ability to hi-five my taste buds, but how often do you get to work at a hip, start-up that also feeds you breakfast?
When Wednesday finally arrived, I made sure to be at the office at 8:40am (20 minutes before we open). But even then, the office was packed with people networking like I had never seen before. 20-somethings in skinny ties and Converse kicks were forging relationships between their companies, the first graduating cohort from Miami's Wyncode were presenting their start-up pitches, and our own coders had already morphed into sous chefs adorned with aprons and smiles. It was the epitome of a great networking event--marketing managers were throwing out words like "synergy" and "joint venture," all while the girl from our design department was chopping Fiji apples.
I believe this sort of event highlights what start-ups bring to the table: literally, they brought waffles to the table, but more importantly, they brought the idea that networking events--or all events for that matter--do not need to be a bunch of suit-clad people in a hotel lobby. People are most likely to open up and engage when they are comfortable and this event brought in people from several sectors and helped them all find comfort--both in business and in food. Waffle Wednesday taught me to worry about engagement and a great time--great networking would follow.
If you are looking to add zest and interest to your networking event, consider doing what we do a LiveNinja--think differently, be creative, and always have fun.
