First of all, organizing things that others will enjoy is certainly a great way. But you also have to motivate people to bring their friends, otherwise you'll always be seeing the same people. People bring their friends when there is something they really want them to experience, so that's what you should focus on.
Also, meeting people is a great way to realize that you can outsource responsibilities to others, something that can actually "scale". Often this allows you to network to the right people. The key here is not to be perfect, and not to put too much responsibility on yourself. For example, you want to bring together two groups of people (men and women, say, or investors and entrepreneurs) that would really like to meet each other. You want to cultivate an aura of quality (i.e. the men and women are exceptionally attractive for whatever reason) and selectiveness in order to inspire people to perpetuate this selectiveness and recommend it to their friends. Suddenly the experience is created not just by you, but by this self perpetuating aura of exclusivity.
Being the facilitator and helping people meet each other actually gets you a lot of points, which you can use later when you need a favor yourself.
If you're coming as a guest, though, there is a real economics that starts happening, and a currency. Perhaps it is unfortunate from an idealistic point of view, but that's the way it works in many conferences, nightclubs, etc.
In general, though, if you want to come to events as a guest, you probably want to be invited either by the organizer or by a regular. If it's the organizer, you'd ideally like to bring some "high quality" friends to the event (such as fellow smart engineers) and introduce them to the organizer, so the organizer will want to invite you again.
Additionally you can form a little "group" that tells each other about events and invites each other. At these events, when you talk to someone important, you can tout the other people in the group instead of bragging about yourself, and they would do the same for you. As a result, you are able to meet many more people through your "network" who is out there meeting people in 10 different places and filtering them for you, because you yourself can be in only one place at a time.
How to start motivating people you know to start networking wherever they are and mentioning you when the opportunity comes up? You have to start doing it for them first. Ask for their business cards. You have to hook people up with opportunities and then ask them to go out and do the same for you. Give them your business cards.
My parents were rainmakers, which was great except that I took too long to realize it, including the time I spent at one of the most rewarding networking-intensive organizations in the world, and I refused to network.
Eventually I realized that I was taking advantage of a social structure that someone built for me, but I wasn't helping builds it further. At first, I was just guilty of a self-centered selfishness. Later, the free ride slowed down. Now it is up to me to help the wheels turn, or just coast to a stop. Networking isn't evil. It is a tool you can use for good or evil. Networks are not free, but they can tolerate someone free riding temporarily.
You once had to learn to use a toilet and wash dishes and write thank-you notes, too. If you don't do directly yourself, you depend on someone to slaughter animals or pull vegetableout out of the ground (someone who expects something on return) that all disgusting and fake?
- when you meet someone else with similar interests/passions, introduce them.
- when you see an article that would spark their interest, share it.
- when you see an event that fits them, pass it along.
- when you see them, ask about how their projects are going.
It's not out of some crappy "I want to network" motivation, but because you like them. And generally we want to help & encourage the people we like.
Let me give you a small example. You know about etiquette right? In every country it's different. Are you manipulating people because you behave differently at Church/Synagogue/etc. and in a bar, or with your parents, or at a dinner table? Are you manipulating people by trying to learn their language and making sure you talk about what's important to THEM an not just whats important to you? I am sure that put this way, you think it's actually all good things. Yet, once we start going further and looking at it more mechanically, it starts to seem disgusting to you and to many people. Perhaps it has to do with the Uncanny Valley actually. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley
Here is the thing. You want people to not be systematic and strategic to a large extent when meeting other people, except where everyone in society is already being shamed into doing it. Why? I think it is because when someone becomes systematic and strategic, then any particular interaction seems like it's just a pawn in a larger scheme, doesn't mean as much to the one being strategic, and for the most part this is unfortunately true. On the other hand, greater mastery over a domain lets you make better moves, and over time gives you more connections and more experience so that you can actually HELP people in ways you couldn't before. An experienced salesman can sell your pretty good product that you couldn't sell yourself, and you can rely on him to do so, even though you might think his sales tactics are "scammy" at first blush. A person who knows a lot of people after many years is able to connect you to the right people even though they have such a large network that you can't possibly imagine they have close relationships with most of them, yet they help you and you appreciate it. Winston Churchill made sure to remember the name and interests of each person he spoke to at dinners. Is he being manipulative and strategic? Maybe. But people loved him.
I think the bottom line here is this: forget the "stigma" that society forces you to attach to actually putting thought and strategy into achieving things when it comes to meeting people, organizing things, etc. If you are producing a result that HELPS EVERYONE INVOLVED, then you are actually doing a good thing. The litmus test is, if you encountered someone who was a master at what you are trying to do, would you be HAPPY that they did this to you, or NOT happy?
I think most of it is about being aware of what the other person really needs and wants, and working to give it to them. For example when a nightclub promoter invites you (a guy) what he really would like is for you to bring a girl or two to the event, so more alcohol will be sold. If you don't, he may be glad you came but ultimately if you did, he would be way happier because you are helping him. You may say, "well, you USED the girls to get more points with the promoter". But you also USED the promoter to help the girls! They all get free drinks and a great time, and meet more people. And they also think you are a cool guy that they had a great time with that night. So everyone wants to see you again.
Look at the suggestion at the end of my post. Do you really consider it creepy that you take your friends' business cards, ask them who they are desperately looking to meet, and actually talk them up to people whenever you feel that you might make a good match? And then ask your friends to do the same once you have made some results for them? Is it weird that you have a group of guys who remember to meet girls for their friends and invite them all to a big house party so they can introduce their friends and generally hang out and have a good time? Is "every man for himself" the only non fake strategy? Or is it actually MORE fake? The guy has to generate all the social proof out of thin air, and at the end of the day, the first strategy attracts people far more, because a group of cool people who respect each other is more attractive. Why not be part of one.
Then, a funny thing happened, I realized a number of people were in the same boat, scratching their heads at who these people were. I had a couple of very good conversations with an Accenture Consultant who had travelled to some of the same countries as I have recently; as well as someone I did recognize but never spoke much with who has a startup doing pretty well in the mobile space.
My takeaway -- when thrown into a big group, especially one with certain baggage attached, it is best to just let go and take the time to chat. A simple hello, how are you, what do you do/what have you been up to, only takes a few minutes. In most cases, it might be considered a "waste of time" but there will be moments where something unexpected comes about.
Furthermore, if you are like me -- someone who tends to prefer the intimate/known to vast wilderness -- it might do you some good to branch out.
It doesn't hurt to get out and be social now and then, even if the overall group is not one you really care to see.
If you live in a social city, you may find yourself in a situation where you're doing more meeting and talking than actually working.
I know a few people that have put such emphasis on the importance of meeting with people and connecting people, that they never get any real work done!
Yes, the OP mentioned this: "(1) Do something" - but the problem is that contacting people and meeting up with them, and attending events, meetups, and even posting on HN - can all feel like you are doing something.
But sometimes you need to ask yourself if you're using all this people-meeting as a distraction from your real work.
Too often, I find meeting people is easy. What's HARD is disconnecting, focusing, staying in, and working through the difficult obstacles to creating something valuable.
From my network marketing days, one phrase sticks out: "Never confuse productivity with activity".
I find your statement very interesting. I am convinced that people often focus on what is hard for them/what the lack/what they want more of. For example, my relatively poor artist friends who bounce from job to job (so much that being fired/quitting means nothing) and perpetually have no money but have lots of friends. Contrast that with my relatively successful developer friends who are so busy with projects that they have no time for friends. One more example - the most connected woman I know - very successful founder/CEO - her biggest accomplishment of the past 5 years is completing a 5k run. Because it is challenging for her physically.
Have you considered working in an environment where there is energy but you have no connections? Like a university library/cafeteria/commons (library access might be restricted - but sometimes if you pay, sometimes you can get a card as a resident) or a coffee shop in an area where they don't speak your native tongue primarily (Chinatown) or a random hotel lobby with a 3G/4G access point?
But back to your comment: If I stay home and dive into a new topic it's always 100% more productive. I remember those days when I was learning Ruby at a Saturday night when my friends were heading to the same clubs they visited every weekend and I knew that they are wasting their time (usually you feel the opposite when a bunch of people you know meet/go out). But the problem is that you usually need a trigger to get productive and just from surfing the web and reading Hacker News it's hard to get this trigger -- don't ask me why but getting active from just reading a blog post doesn't work (maybe there're just too many of them.) So, at the end you need to have a good ratio of being productive and just being active/busy/meeting people.
A last thought: if I think back to all encounters on such startup events most stay superficial and lead nowhere. I got the most inspiration out of long-term relationships (coworkers).
It's one of those things where you have to go out and press flesh with 100 or 200 people to find one person you REALLY click with. It's overwhelming to me and I'm usually drained after chatting up 10 or 15 people.
On the other hand, I have had pretty good luck dropping in on local and regional forums, chatting about topical stuff, building a rapport with people, and then meeting them in person.
How much we enjoy something depends on our expectations of success. As you improve your skills and experience success meeting people you enjoy it more. You'll also get better jobs, have better meetings with VCs, etc.
Since I came to improving my communication and social skills later in life through exercises, I shared a few of the most effective exercises on my blog -- http://joshuaspodek.com/communication-skills-exercises-6.
They've become some of my most popular posts. This is just the type of crowd I wrote them for.
The three C's: Conversation-friendliness, Community, Continuity
No mention of body language? "Body Language Basics", Navarro, Joe. ~ http://www.psychologytoday.com/print/72334
Planning dinner parties. I've actually started doing this. I find that it seems to be a lot harder to plan/execute/have a small (8-10 person) dinner engagement than it is to send out a broad invite to almost everyone you know for a 30 person party - expectations of the host/guests? I don't know why (yet).
The key for a dinner party is to not to try for a weekend night but a weekday night (e.g. Tuesday or Wednesday) - easier to compete against other events on those days than weekend events (which are usually more important/reserved slots). Having non-shows annoy me (but life happens). Always try to invite some couples - that maximizes the invite/halves the required outreach.
I used to consider myself a fairly shy person but the thing is I have run into people at other friends's events who I already know (and my friends are like - you know them already?) Which makes me realize - that I am not as shy as I claim to be. Actions speak more than your beliefs? I like to try to run in many circles (albeit loosely connected). I have not yet managed to bring disparate social circles together on a regular basis (outside of a big party) but that is my goal. I have had at least two instances of people meeting and dating - so by that metric - I have succeeded.
As I heard once, it is very hard to be the global maximum (e.g. POTUS). Harder to be the regional maximum. But at your own party, at your own event, by definition - you are the local maximum. The host, the one who brought everyone together. That counts for a lot.
Good luck and just get it going. Don't wait for your dinner party/bar crawl to be perfect. All you need is two people with you to not feel like a social pariah. Because you are not one.
Meet at least one or two new people every couple of days. And, meeting people online... much different than spending an hour with them over coffee.
After a few years, you'll be amazed at the opportunities that become available.
The trick is to be genuinely interested in what other people are doing. If you go to any event trying to sell [yourself|your product] you'll look like a jerk.
The cold email advice at the bottom is spot on too. In the last couple months, I've had lunch with two rather well-known people in my field who I have tons of respect for. In both cases, I cold emailed them and asked to get together.
