I, Rachel, might be the least likely member of the Aster & Fern team to be writing this as ask me what word best sums up my networking experience and, quick as a flash, I’d reply ‘painful’. A classic INTJ for those of you familiar with Myers-Briggs; I’m an introverted lover of logic and only marginally less awkward than Dr Spock, particularly when it comes to my absolute nemesis … small talk.

That’s why you’re always likely to find me behind the welcome desk at events or passing canapés around at parties. Why? Well, because I know I have to talk to everyone – and for the most part, I do want to talk to everyone – and they’re both roles that offer that opportunity but with a physical barrier (a desk, a plate) and the chance to politely to move on.

True story.

And now you know my secrets and what to watch out for at Aster & Fern events!

So, coming at it from the point of view of someone who finds mingling and networking a bit difficult, here are five reasons why I still do it and why I think you would genuinely enjoy our monthly Brunch Mingles.

One: Lonely, I’m Mr(s) Lonely!

Working from home, working alone, or even working with a small team as the owner of your own business, it can get a little lonely, sometimes. You know who – or what – was my best friend when I started working freelance? My fridge! Yes, every time I completed a piece of copy, edited a set of images or finished a client call, instead of having a couple of minutes chat with a nearby colleague as I would have done in my former life, I would pop downstairs and check in with the bearer of rewarding treats, my faithful fridge.

Since finding my gang, the Aster & Fern crew, admittedly, my biscuit consumption does need addressing at some point, but by have these amazing ladies to nudge on FB, pester on Twitter, and fire question at via SMS (never, ever, ever will I be persuaded that WhatsApp is a good thing – ask me about it when you see me) it’s made a huge difference to my day. It’s that sense of being surrounded by like-minded colleagues even when we’re not physically together.

And that’s how we want you to feel, even when you leave our Mingles … we’re there for you in-between the monthly meet ups, too.

Two: You’ll learn new things

If neglecting your laptop for something as frivolous sounding as a friendly brunch leaves you feeling guilty, take a deep breath and think about all the things that you could learn from getting together with an amazing group of like-minded creatives. Consider us your new colleagues.

Obviously, our Aster & Fern Brunch Mingles are going to have a big focus on marketing, social media, and content planning as that’s what we love, but you just never know who you might be sat next to and what they specialise in. We would be shocked if you didn’t walk away with a pocketful of handy facts or new things to try out when you get back to work.

Three: It sparks amazing ideas

I think we all know that the best ideas tend not to come when you’re sat with your nose pressed against your phone or laptop willing all the answers to somehow subliminally enter your brain. There’s power in conversation and discussion, be that by running a hint of an idea past a supportive network and using their feedback to fully form it, or by using collective experience and enthusiasm to give you the motivation to get your fledgling business off the ground.

That’s why we ask everyone coming to our Brunch Mingles to bring along a question or a query to pose to the group. We want to encourage conversation that results in lots of LIGHTBULB! moments – plus, it’s a great way for introverts to get involved and get talking (I speak from experience).

Four: The potential to collaborate is incredible

Collaboration over competition is an Aster & Fern mantra. After all, A& F was founded when Karen and I spent a train journey talking about the need for affordable and credible social media and marketing assistance for small businesses and startups. Within the hour, we’d bought the URL and set up all the social media accounts. It was a similar story when we met with Helen and Kirsty from InstaMingle Events. We quickly realised that we’d be a whole lot stronger working together.

You simply don’t make these kinds of connections or build strong relationships without putting yourself out there. As brilliant as social media is, being able to look someone in the eye and see where a conversation naturally takes you is a powerful thing.

Five: People who ‘get it’

If you’re attending your first Brunch Mingle, I’m guessing that even for the most outgoing person, there’ll be a few nerves. It’s inevitable. New thing, new place, new people. We’ve deliberately kept the numbers low so you won’t have to walk in to a huge room full of strangers and we decided on a sit down brunch to give it a more intimate and accessible feel. Plus, ‘What are you ordering?’ is a great conversation starter.

That said, most of us with our own businesses, blogs or who work as freelancers are a pretty obsessive bunch who rarely switch off and work more hours that we often care to admit. Think about how much fun it will be to spend a couple of hours with like-minded people who ‘get it’. The ups, the downs, the terrifying screen time stats, the friends who think you can take time off whenever you want but don’t see the all too frequent midnight email sessions, and the joy when a customer/client/follower emails you to tell you that you’ve really made a difference. We know those highs and lows all too well.

Want to join us? Book your ticket.

Photos taken by CameraYard at November’s Festive Mingle.