by Ian Heller

Created on: May 30, 2008

WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD

HOW TO NETWORK WITH THE BOYS YOUR MOM TOLD YOU TO AVOID

I tried to find a better job recently. I liked my old job. I just wanted to work in a more glamorous company with more responsibility and a higher paycheck. I knew that sooner or later I would contact one of my target companies, but first I needed practice in making small talk.

I went to a party sponsored by the school where I graduated. A yearly alumnae meeting where graduates got together and talked about what they were doing. Most of us were in our twenties and thirties. Here talk meant babies, elementary school for our kids, and the rising cost of home-ownership.

I quickly bumped into Steve. He was about my age, and had recently been elected Vice President of the county's Chamber of Commerce. We had not seen each other in years, and barely knew each other back in the day. But we had made similar choices in our lives and now had a great deal in common. We spent the afternoon drinking and reliving the wonderful school days we probably never had.

When I got home I told my wife that I had been more outgoing than usual. And that my networking skills might be rusty but were still there.

"Great! Did you ask him for a job?"

"Hello? I barely know the guy. This was the first time we talked since the early nineties. And now I am supposed to ask him for a job? Give the friendship time to grow."

"When are you two getting together again? Did you make a lunch date? What's your plan? I need some action, Babe."

"There is no plan. If we bump into each other, great. If not, oh well. If it was meant to be, it was meant to be."

"What did you guys talk about all day?"

"I forgot."

"You forgot? You stink of booze and your forgot how you spent the afternoon. Was one of your ex-girlfriends there? Fess up! Who was it?"

"Andrea. But I didn't say much to her. Steve dated her, too. He did all the talking"

"And you did all the drinking. Andrea is the super-gorgeous girl that dated the entire rugby team, right? Or was it the lacrosse team?"

"I don't know. We never spoke much."

"I bet you didn't. Anyway, given that you and Steve are buddies in more ways than one I don't know why you didn't ask for a job. You have to have a game plan."

ON WOMEN AND ROLE MODELS

About ten years ago I read a book by Dr. Joy Browne, a popular radio psychologist and author who said it best. Women do not quite get it. In a few more generations they will. But they are not yet there.'

I was fortunate. I picked up life, and business, from my Dad and

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