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+---
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+---
+
+# showing up with no plan
+
+*(common gotcha)*
+
+## what happened
+
+you arrive at a conference or networking event, wander around, talk to whoever happens to be near you, and leave without making any meaningful connections.
+
+## why it's a gotcha
+
+events have dozens or hundreds of people, and your time is limited. without a plan, you'll default to talking to people who are easy to approach (other nervous newcomers) instead of the people who could actually help your work or career.
+
+## the fix
+
+before the event, look at the speaker list, attendee list, or sponsor list. identify 3-5 people you specifically want to meet. research their work so you can start a real conversation, not just "so what do you do?" set a micro-goal: 3 quality conversations beats 20 business card swaps.
+
+## see also
+
+- [[get-contacts-immediately]] — once you meet your targets, lock in the contact
+- [[how-you-introduce-yourself]] — plan your intro too
+- [[networking-as-extraction]] — having a plan doesn't mean having an agenda
+- [[figure-out-what-you-want-before-partners]] — same "know what you want" energy
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