When Neen James said the word “TeleCoffee,” I thought, what have I gotten myself into? Is this going to be another event that I go home feeling like I would have been more inspired by the Biggest Loser than the lessons of the event?

No! This small, spunky, bling-a-riffic Aussie won me over by the end of the evening. Whether you are in the corporate world or own your own business, networking is an essential skill for every business woman. Mrs. James shares how to “Network in Stilettos” at any stage of a career. As a successful speaker and author, she shared with the Ladies Who Launch group tips from business card etiquette to proper conversational flow.

The best and most eye opening tip was the telecoffee. A telecoffee is when two people grab a coffee at their desk and talk on the telephone (she said it as a little jingle). Mrs. James says to have an agenda for the telecoffee and stick to 15 minutes. You make the connection AND spend nothing. I just read about a telecocktail. I may have to try that next, but not too many in one night!

First on the to-do list is arm yourself with the essentials of a successful networker.

1. Pen – Doesn’t have to be the Tiffany’s purse pen, but should look nice and made out of some sort of metal. Check out SeeJaneWork for cute (and inexpensive) pens and office fun.
2. Proper Business Card Holder -  Taking a bent, pen marked card out of your pocket or purse tells your business that you don’t care about your card, so why should they. Lodis is my favorite.
3. Bag with External Pocket – Stop the insanity with huge uncomfortable bags! The purse juggle is doing nothing, but proving you can’t juggle. Check out Coakly or any other bag that isn’t a hassle.

First impressions are created within the first 7 seconds like your wealth, education level, power, influence, etc. To prepare for this 7 seconds, Neen says think of your personal brand. Are you wearing or doing anything distracting? Are you an inner soul or outer soul? What words come to your mind when someone meets you, the whole package, for the first time? What words do you want to have come to mind? Mrs. James discusses more on her site and in her book about you as a brand.

Mrs. James has a unique, practical, refreshing, and powerfully feminine outlook on business, networking, and productivity. Her website is a bottomless resource for anyone looking to be a more productive person and learning how to do this through tools with flair and a unique stickiness. In the end, it didn’t matter that I was wearing flats. It’s the stiletto within that drives our success.