A few months ago I attended a business networking event where everyone had a chance to talk about their business. I noted three people I wanted to talk with further. After the meeting, I made it my mission to connect with each of them. I saw one heading for the door, so I caught up with her before she left—all the while keeping my eye on the other two, so that I didn’t miss making contact with them.

As I finished speaking with the first, I met the next person, also as he was leaving. In turn, because I was stationed by the door, I was able to connect with the third as she was leaving, too. All in all, I spent about 20–30 minutes conversing with them, during which time many people walked past us to exit.

Having completed my mission, I headed back into the room to find the person I came with. As I got back to the middle of the room, a man whom I’d seen a number of times at the group but had never spoken with, came up to me and angrily stated, “You don’t like me, do you?”

I was stunned. I hardly even knew him! Dumbfounded, all I could say was, “Huh?”

He then brusquely walked off. The host of the meeting was within earshot, so I looked at him and said, “Do you know what that was all about?”

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