Yes indeed, you deserve a vacation away from it all. You are in desperate need of some and R&R and you are absolutely looking forward to taking a cruise to get your head back in gear. Blue skies, crystal waters, nightly parties, all you can eat buffets, and the incredible ports are enough to shock your system back into living, rather than just surviving day after day. The problem is that being the hardworking professional you are, it's not always easy to completely turn away the opportunity to grow professionally. We know the rule of thumb for growing in your profession is to network constantly and allow your network to bring you profit; well that does not always have to be the full time job that it sounds like. Amazingly, there is an incredible balance between work and play and taking your cruise is the ideal vacation to make new and valuable connections. Here are a few tips on how to use your vacation to leverage your career:
1. Bring your business cards:
Keep in mind that you are going on a vacation, not a staycation so you will meet quite a few hard working professionals like yourself on the ship. Your cruise was not the cheapest vacation, so the people you are rubbing elbows with, are people with expendable income. A cruise is a very social place with all the different parties and activities you will take advantage of; you'll miss out big time when you go to a black tie event and meet the Senior VP of some awesome company and didn't bring any cards to mark your presence. You're going to meet so many awesome people so make sure that you make your presence count by handing them a reminder of whom you are.
2. Be the life of the party:
As mentioned before, you are going to meet some pretty interesting people with great jobs. For this reason, you have got to resist the urge to become a wallflower (if you an introvert at heart). If you're going to go to any of the parties or maybe you will take advantage of the dance lessons, be enthusiastic! Remember that people will remember you, or are more likely to approach you if they like what they see from a distance. How many times have you gone through your archives of business cards and couldn't put a face to the name? Our mental Rolodex often times are stimulated by a memory that stands out. If you can be as charismatic as you can, when your cruise is over and everyone is back in their home city and state, they will associate your name and card with a pleasant memory. There is no better competitive advantage than to share a pleasant memory with your next potential client or customer.
3. Pass compliments and exchange information:
So maybe you are an introvert, maybe it's hard for you to get the ball the rolling when it comes to starting conversations. How do you get in the door to grab someone's attention and get them to engage and converse with you? Be conscious of the fact that you are on vacation, which means that people went shopping for new clothes to wear to go along with the new scenery. It is safe to assume that some may have new luggage, new bathing suit, new clothes, or accessories. A simple compliment is the best way to trigger a conversation with someone that you do not know with the attempt to find out if the two of you can mutually benefit one another. They are going to shop on the ports for souvenirs, so all you have to do is pass them a compliment. Tell them how nice the gift is that they are buying, they will tell you who they bought it for and then next thing you know, they have now become a prospect! You know the key to sales, let people talk about themselves and use the information to qualify them for your product or service. Compliments are an awesome way to gain an entrance to the information that you need.
4. Take advantage of the activities:
You have an itinerary full of destinations and interesting activities. You could go to a ball or take ballroom dance lessons. You could attend a red carpet event, or even meet people at a spiritual devotion. In anything that you decide to do, you will cross individuals from different walks of life and interests and have a great opportunity to exchange information. There are so many wonderful events to be a part of on your cruise vacation, the wisest thing you can do is connect to new wonderful people that can make enhance your experience. Even though the vacation may come to an end, you could have many wonderful connections that never have to.
5. Stay as sober as you can:
You may think that this goes without saying, but if you plan to meet new people on your cruise with the intent to leverage yourself at work, you need to make the best impression possible. Yes, you are on vacation and deserve to let loose. Just resist the urge to be too loose. You never know who you will meet and where your next business deal or job interview may come from. We all know that first impressions are everything, so be sure that the imprint you leave is a positive one that will benefit you in the long run.
Business professionals understand the importance of networking and how it will impact their career. Cruise vacations can be just as powerful as social networking if you are open to meeting people from all over the world. You may attend conferences and conventions, but the people you met on your cruise can impact your career in a positive way because you met them under such wonderful circumstances. Always keep an open mind when you get there and enjoy yourself as you enjoy the company of others. You can have an awesome time, that can benefit your future as well as the present if you play your cards right.
Cool Jazz Cruise
http://www.cooljazzcruise.com/
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