190: The Ubiquitous Meishi Exchange And Event Networking - Are They Now Dead?

<p>The Ubiquitous Meishi Exchange and Event Networking -  Are They Now Dead?</p> <p> </p> <p>As the President of my company in Japan, it is almost impossible for me to cold call Japanese companies.  If a Japanese prospective client got a cold call from the President of another company, they would immediately be suspicious of that organisation.  Why does the President have to make cold calls?  What sort of company is this, they don’t sound very sizeable, stable or credible?  Consequently my modus operandi, to date, has been to be the Tokyo King of Networking. </p> <p> </p> <p>I would happily go off to many events, work the room, exchange meishi with as many people as I could get to, in the time available.  I would get there early and visually scan all the name cards lined up outside the room to see who was coming.  Who did I already know (so I wouldn’t forget their name) and who did I want to get to know?  I would start early and stay late.  I would ask one simple, subtle qualifying question in order to know how to approach this company representative. </p> <p> </p> <p>Lockdown put the sword to that little niche sales play of mine.  Everyone was at home, organisations who used to sponsor networking events, only hold their meetings online these days.  Even in post lockdown Tokyo, there are still no networking events being held.  Organisers are not confident enough they can secure the safety of their guests, to invite them to come to a room and mingle with potentially asymptomatic strangers.  The punters themselves are not confident to go into a confined room, with a bunch of other people and potentially be exposed to the virus.</p> <p> </p> <p>The online meetings being held are not networking events.  They are information events, usually with speakers and a moderator and limited Q&A.  There is no possibility for me to meet the other participants on the call.  Is this going to change anytime soon?  I don’t think so and even when meetings are held again, they will be quite different. Social distancing will place a ph