Business Networking for a High-Functioning Aspie?

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Is it possible for an Aspie to network in business? I'm not talking about high-end things like talking to investors or a room full of corporates; just setting up some really simple (in theory) meetings with potential new customers.

There seems to be nothing on the internet so far to suggest whether or not it has been done before, let alone any advice. This seems peculiar, given that self-employment is often the natural answer to the realisation that you cannot cope with corporate life. This is certainly true for me.

Without going into too much detail, my business proposition is a good one, but I'm going to need to approach a few prospects for market research and a potential avenue into my first customers. I'm high functioning enough to pass as relatively normal for short bursts and I've found I'm passable one-on-one (2 is my absolute maximum).

Is there anyone on here who's managed to navigate some business meetings successfully? If so I would very much like to hear from you. It really would make all the difference.

I did this.

It was incredibly difficult, but it is possible and was certainly worthwhile for me.

I did a lot of throwing myself into new networking groups, not knowing what to expect at all. Honestly, in a vast majority I stood uncomfortably in a corner whilst everyone else mingled, and every now and again someone would take pity on me, we'd have a quick awkward chat and then we'd both want to get away, and repeat...

But, eventually, I did land upon a group that I was more comfortable with. The people were friendly. The emphasis was less on business and 'selling what you do' and more on relaxed chatting and the building of friendships. The work naturally grew from that, because people remember you when they've had friendly conversations and will be happier to recommend you to others that they know.

This group was still extremely difficult for me - at the beginning I did still tend to stand around awkwardly. Once it started, everyone had to introduce themselves and what they did - over the months, I got this down to a one-sentence introduction that I repeated each month without changing a word, so it was slightly easier to handle. I made some great connections through the group, but honestly I wasn't as involved as I could have been. There used to be one 'speaker' each month and I always avoided doing this because I could never have managed.

In the end I left because of childcare issues. Otherwise, I would still be going. But honestly, by this point I had been attending monthly for more than two years and was reaching a point where I couldn't continue - I was burning out and getting worse and worse at the mingling and chatting.

So, it was possible for me. And it was worthwhile. But there were definite limitations.

One to one meetings, again I could do, but they were extremely hard and caused an enormous amount of stress. I spent days preparing and mentally building up to these, and I know that during them I was very awkward and uncomfortable and sounded like I had no clue what I was talking about. Still, again, I think somehow my ability shone through because meetings almost always resulted in more work! Again, these have stopped due to childcare issues and I'm grateful for it.