I was reading a blog post yesterday from David Dalka with a great conference networking tip

June 4, 2011 - PRLog -- I've written before about the importance of being memorable, and in that article I focused on elements of your interaction that would help people remember you in a positive way. But an even better way to make yourself memorable is to actually of service to someone -- to help them get something done, no matter how simple it may be.
http://www.happybattery.com.au/camcorder-battery/Panasonic/vw-vbg130.htm   Panasonic vw-vbg130 battery
Have you ever seen one of those moms who seems to have absolutely everything you might ever need for kids in her bag? Wipes, lip balm, petroleum jelly, sunscreen, a spare diaper and so on? In addition to David's power cord suggestion above, here are a few more ideas on how you can be the equivalent of one of those moms at your next conference or seminar (and it can all fit in your pocket, purse or laptop case):

   * Spare pen and paper - How many times have you seen someone needing a spare pen or small notepad on which to write something down? If you attend a lot of events, you might want to even have some made with your company name, logo and contact information. Don't force them on people, but when the opportunity arises, it will be gratefully accepted as a service, not just another ad.
http://www.happybattery.com.au/camcorder-battery/
 camcorder battery

   * Information at your fingertips - Whether you use a paper organizer or an electronic one, having names, contact information and event information available without having to crack open your laptop allows you to be of immediate service. Of course, there's the added advantage that you can't forget to do it entirely, as so often happens when it's just a promise rather than immediate action.
   * Spare change - Many times at conventions, people need coins for the parking meter or vending machine, or an extra buck or two, perhaps for the snack bar which may not take credit cards, or just change for a larger bill. It's not a bad idea at all to be sure you have smaller bills and coins at the start of the day.
http://www.happybattery.com.au/camcorder-battery/Panasoni...   Panasonic vw-vbg260 battery
   * Tools - There's just never a small screwdriver around when you need one. Seriously - keep a couple of small screwdrivers in your laptop case (one flathead and one Phillips), and you'll be ready when someone breaks their glasses, wants to pop off a laptop key or needs to change a battery. A pocketknife is another handy tool, as are scissors. Personally, I keep a small toolkit in my laptop case that includes needlenose pliers and wire cutters, plus a screwdriver with swappable tips.
   * Cyanoacrylate - Cyano-what??? That's Super Glue or Krazy Glue. Great stuff. It's much more effective at fixing things than duct tape, and more compact to boot.

# # #

One of the worst things that can happen while working on a laptop is to have your Laptop Battery die mid-project. To avoid this, it's good to know how much life your battery has left in it.