When we lived in the city I used to go for coffee a lot. And, never fear coffee producers, this is not about coffee. In fact we can replace that and say “Stop going for tea/lunch/dinner/smoothies/a walk”  if we felt like it.

And by going for, I really mean “meeting” for.

Stop meeting people for meetings about nothing.

Back in the city days my every spare moment was booked up “meeting people”  Meeting to learn more about them, to see how I could assist, to connect our businesses and to “network”

I networked my ass off, and from it I built some amazing relationships and might even had done a wee bit of work.

But not enough of those “meetings” turned into opportunity.  In fact, so many times those meetings turned into me giving away something for free.

When we moved away from the city, people still wanted to meet, but alas now I was too far away. This is when I launched my consulting biz and put a price tag on my time.

Yep. Want to meet me for coffee? Well, it’s probably going to cost you.

And that should be ok. Much like giving the milk away for free, my advice had value and it was time for me to start noticing that.  When coffee meetings and networking was mostly one sided I started to realize I was offering a service and for this there should be renumeration.

Now, I still have coffee meetings, but they are rare and I am usually straight up about my purpose for connecting before I do.  I also have virtual hangouts, where I offer specific training and education for a fee.  I also meet friends online and gab.

And the most amazing thing has happened. . .

Instead of spending my time meeting and driving, and spending my money on coffee and cake, I am spending my time working and my money goes back in my wallet. I can get more done in a 15 minute virtual meeting that I can do in a 60 minute chat over coffee.

We disperse of the chatter when we are online and we get down to business. I rarely “run late” and I never get stuck in traffic, and my work gets delivered on time.  I am able to fine tune my business, without the distraction of the “what if’s” and “wouldn’t it be nice” conversations that come up during these coffee dates.

And no, I’m not lonely. Nor am I shut off from my industry. I have layers in my my community and resources to go to when I need them.

And this is just a suggestion . . . but perhaps if you stop going for coffee so much and working “on” the business, you will have more time to actually work “in” the biz and get all those outstanding things accomplished.