false 2009-02-12T15:39:18-08:00 <p>As I sat down, I realized just how far I had come and yet I had so far to go.&nbsp; I would&#39;ve been really quite content to live in the mountains by myself bothering no one and being bothered by no one.&nbsp; I was the master at slipping in and out of social gatherings without saying anything wrong or anything at all!&nbsp; I would&#39;ve been equally content not to have opened a business at the beginning of the worst economic climate in my lifetime or possibly in history.&nbsp; I would&#39;ve been very happy and content to remain comfortable.</p><p>Instead, I opened a physical therapy clinic at the beginning of 2008.&nbsp; I joined the local chamber of commerce.&nbsp; Discomfort.&nbsp; I actually attended the chamber events.&nbsp; More discomfort.&nbsp; I joined a networking group, became the vice president in charge of membership and watched as the group grew from 6 to about 20 in 13 months.&nbsp; Discomfort.&nbsp; Became an ambassador for the chamber and had to make phone calls.&nbsp; More discomfort.&nbsp; Now, I can&#39;t walk into or out of a community event without stopping and asking someone how it&#39;s going or what&#39;s new, or how are the kids.&nbsp; I can&#39;t slip in and out of social gatherings without being noticed.</p><p>So as I sat down from my address to new chamber members as the Rookie of the Year recipient, I realized that I no longer feel discomfort.&nbsp; I learned I genuinely love to interact with people outside of my clinic office.&nbsp; The king of the &quot;attending social gatherings covertly society&quot; has lost his throne.&nbsp; I don&#39;t think all&nbsp;the people&nbsp;I&#39;ve met and become friends or acquaintances of&nbsp;will let my business fail- and that I think is networking.&nbsp;</p> aPkOe5sQ4qllvkab8P4pmk false false false true false 2009-04-07T18:58:23-07:00 0 true 0 false false false 1 Who woulda thought? 2010-02-09T11:03:25-08:00 who-woulda-thought dJO0BqsQKqllvkab8P4pmk RYNPT 705 0 dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw