I'm terrible at playing the networking game.

Yesterday the staff from my current business rotation went to Harry's Bar after work as a farewell for the outgoing CEO & welcome for the incoming CEO for the business. While I think I can interact with people quite "ok-ly" on a one-to-one basis, especially if there are my peers, I somewhat freeze and clam up when in the presence of "greatness", i.e. my bosses. So of course, I was inwardly panicking as I was walking to the bar, envisioning the 1,001 scenarios I'll find myself in when I am confronted with needing to say "hi" to the CEOs... And of course, me being a total newbie to the whole pubbing/clubbing scene (I'm a more coffee-jazz kinda gal), I bluntly and "blur-ly" asked the bartender if they served plain water. His temporarily stunned+disgusted look taught me lesson #1 for the night:

It's sky-juice, dummy.

And it didn't help matters when I was 'suan-ed' by my boss:

Boss: "Sarah, take it easy with the drink, you don't wanna get drunk too early
in the night."

Me: "Huh? But I'm not drinking..."

A colleague: "(Boss' name), Sarah's just having plain water." (I think she meant to help me out)

Boss: "Exactly."

Right.

But well, on Sunday I was talking to Pastor Mark, and yea, I decided that I'm just going to enjoy being myself, and being nice to people because people deserve to be treated nicely, regardless of whatever-O they may be.

So that's what I did.

And guess what? I have no idea how it happened, but I suddenly found myself standing RIGHT IN FRONT of the incoming CEO when welcome speeches etc started, earning myself a wink or 2 from him when a joke was cracked.

Not only did I get to introduce myself to him, I also had a nice chat with the outgoing CEO, who, today, said "hi" to me in the office like 3-4 times - on a first name basis. AND I didn't stay long at the cocktail too...I even made it to church in time for my youth committee meeting at 8 plus!

Truly, the Holy Spirit helps us to be "in the world, not of the world".

And I think life's alot easier when Col 3:23 is the focus - "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as unto the LORD, not unto man."

After all, we can't please everyone, so might as well concentrate on pleasing only the One that truly matters.

(P/S I love the article (posted below) on Bono. It says it all.)