Have you ever gone to the gym and started chatting with the person next to you? You end up seeing them a few times a week in your favorite spin class or lifting weights and eventually, you get to know one another. It turns out that the gym is actually one of the best places to network and to build great ideas. Years ago, people built similar business relationships out on the golf course, during happy hour or at young professional groups. While these are still valid, it seems that 2013 will be the year we add the gym to our networking checklist.
Is the Gym the Best New Place to Network?
Not only is your local fitness center a place to get healthy and have a little fun, but burning a few calories is also a great way to get rid of stress. Both in big cities and small towns alike, grabbing a lunch-time spin class or being part of a small team attempting a Tough Mudder together allows people to build a bond over exercise. That bond often evolves into contacts that are easily transferred to the boardroom and may just be the start of some incredible entrepreneurial ideas.
What do you think – have you tried networking at the gym?