“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” One of my favorite quotes from Woody Allen. Most people forget that to be successful, you have to get out of your office chair and meet people. To go to functions where you mingle with professionals. And be on time for appointments with those people.

That’s it. Show up.

This week, one of my clients told me a powerful story about a monthly gathering of executives that I introduced her to — this time she brought a friend along.

Her friend (we’ll call him John) works for a major consulting firm — a huge one. While at this event, John introduces himself to another attendee and proceeds to find out that this person is a major partner his firm.

This partner is impressed that John is out networking for the firm. They have a great conversation and the partner proceeds to ask him out to lunch.

What just happened to John’s career? It went through the roof and is currently in the stratosphere. Why? Because he showed up.

Over the next week or so, start looking for opportunities to get out and meet people. Spread your wings — start making friends and bringing home gobs of business cards.

You never know who you might meet. At the very least, it allows you to get out of that stale office and into the sunlight. You get to interact with people in various vocations — the ideas will start flowing — and then magic happens.

You’ll thank me.

Who have you met (at a function, meeting, etc.) that changed your life?

Image provided by Dell's Official Flickr Page at Flickr.