~A great way to network at a conference is to volunteer at registration desk. Why? You get to say hello to everyone who registers in your line and everyone who registers gets to see you behind registration table. At event, you'll feel more comfortable talking with people because you've "met" them already. And if those aren't enough benefits, people will "recognize you" from registration desk, and be more likely to come talk with you.

~If you teach a class or speak, go into room early. Get a feel for it, change it around if need be, and greet everyone who walks in with a big "hello my name is ...". Bring name tags or recycle tops of old manila folders, have each person put their name on it, and put it on table in front of them.

They're part of what we thought we "should do" vs. being a "must do"! Excuses come from us not being able to take our own "no's". They're what we say to people so that we "don't hurt their feelings". Excuses are what we say so that others don't hurt us. Excuses are part of what we're tolerating in our life (that which draws out our energy and squashes it)!

Excuses come back to haunt us unless we look at them as gifts from clients or friends or ourselves. Have you ever received an excuse for "something" and thought -- Is that person kidding with that excuse? Why didn't they just say NO? OH! ... I am doing same thing to "so and so".

Say NO!!! Sometimes saying "NO" to someone means saying "YES" to someone even more important -- YOU!