I went schmoozing today. No joke. TechLink had a LeaderLink event, and although I still have reservations about TechLink, and I have issues with a rather elitist/exclusive “LeaderLink” event, I became the hypocrite and went and schmoozed over wine and lasagna. TechLink is supposed to bring together MIT main campus (ie the scientists and engineers) and Sloan (MIT’s business school), but the events are really just occasions for people to get wined and dined. I did not see much accomplished by tonight’s event except an opportunity for some people to feel rather self-important.

The event did clue me in to the fact that maybe I’m not so angry anymore. Being able to schmooze and endure two hours of small-talk with complete strangers with a semi-good attitude probably means that I am out of my angry/depressed phase. It also gave me new confidence in my newly-found ability to ask questions regarding just about anything.

The questions-asking is a part of me finally following the great advice that someone once gave me regarding schmoozing … the key is to keep asking the other person engaging questions about things that they do, things that they are familiar with. So what student group are you a part of? Ah, isn’t there also a venture capital interest group as well? What is the difference between entrepreneurship group and the VC group? What interactions do your group have with main campus? Do you see one department dominating the entrepreneurial pursuits coming out of Sloan/main campus interactions?

Anyway, my semi-good mood was killed by a semi-not-so-good phone conversation later tonight. It brought back bad memories of the angry phase, and made me question some of the decisions that I made afterwards. But questions are just that … questions … for now. Should I just shrug off the bad phone convo and move on? *sigh* maybe … we shall see.