My experience with networking events [24 Oct 08]

Nice meeting you all at prior CFA networking events.

Once a while, I hear comments like “This event not likely to get good turnout”, “The people who come for networking tend to be the same old faces”, etc. From my personal experience in the most recent networking events, I have verified that this is NOT true, as shown below.

Date Event Total turnout Namecards I collected (ie new contacts)
31/7 Martini night ~40 8
14/8 Boardgames at Settlers Café 15 6
25/9 Moroco Bar at Clarke Quay ~30 6
23/10 Stock market boardgames at Mind’s Café 20 7

My numbers above clearly show a few things:
(1) number of people I meet is not very sensitive to the total turnout at the event.
(2) I will almost always get to meet new people, even if the total turnout is below average.
(3) Different events attract different people, hence one should be able to meet new people each time.

I am one of the fortunate few who managed to pass three levels of CFA exam at first attempt…. many people ask me if I have any secret formula or special exam preparation strategy and my response is proper time management with discipline, plus a bit of luck.

At a luncheon talk the other day, I met a few senior fund managers from a fund house known as Marathon Asset Management. I find their name very interesting because asset mgt is in a way like running a marathon: how do you keep generating positive returns consistently, year after year?? Is it some special skill? Or is it luck? [This is something I don't have an answer yet as I am still young in the industry, compared to many people]

From my three personal snippets above (networking events, preparing for CFA exam, investment mgt), I can see something in common: it is important to have a system/ process to consistently do things that will add value over a period of time…. Things do not happen overnight, whether it is about preparing for an important exam like CFA, building a vast network of people, or accumulating financial assets.

Preparing for CFA exam: Do 1-2 study sessions each week (in a very disciplined approach), and before you know it, you have covered everything in 16 wks.
Building a network: Attend 1-2 networking sessions regularly (each month) and before you know it, you have built a network of people in the industry.
Asset Management: Develop a systematic process of portfolio construction and risk exposure monitoring and before you know it, positive returns start flowing in.  [Happy to learn from you folks who are most likely more expert than me]

In a nutshell, DISCIPLINE is the keyword and it is also my STRENGTH. Do things that add value CONSISTENTLY.

See you again at networking events. Have a good long weekend!

Yo-man

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