January off to the customary slow start for in-person events...

Networkland is still not quite up to full speed ahead following the Santa Slump, at least as far as Live! in-person EVENTS go...

Online events are lower risk investment for organisers as they don't have to keep venues onside with sufficient attendees to make it worthwhile opening up and paying staff.

Zoom rooms are to all intents and purposes free to run, so the numbers are less critical.

Some networkers will only go to in-person meetings because they value the face-to-face interactions, whilst others are resolutely online only because they find it saves time and money.

Of course, the majority of us are 'hybrids' these days, enjoying a mix of on- and offline networking. 

We offer the best of both worlds in our listings (I would say that, of course :0) but you actually could find a networking event to atend on NiS every weekday, if you're really going for it!

Rather than subject you to more of my ramblings (saving that for next week's Bulletin!) I thought I'd share some words of wisdom from one of my favourite business gurus, Seth Godin.

His daily blog posts are among my very few email subscriptions (they're free - and worth every penny!) You can sign up here... to receive his daily doses of wisdom into your inbox. 

Here's a recent one on how AI is forcing us to up our game, which struck a chord with me:

• "Are you better than the cheap alternative?
  Frozen pizza changed the game for many pizzerias. If you couldn’t offer something better than what I had in my freezer, what do I need you for?
  If the wedding photographer can’t deliver more magic than the phone in my guest’s pocket, no thanks.
  Does working with your non-profit make me feel better than putting a dollar in the violin case of the busker down the street?
  And if the local print shop can’t set type better than my Mac, I’ll move on.
  So - is your service (copywriting, research, illustration or whatever) better than I can get from the AI on my desk?
  Racing to the bottom is no fun... you might win!"