Your attitude is probably one of the most important determinants of your outcome when it comes to networking success. Heck, this is true of more than just your networking experiences.

Before any type of encounter whether it be an event or just a one on one meeting think about where your head is. How you're feeling about that meeting and what you think its outcome will be is very likely to be the actual experience. For example if you walk into an event expecting that it's going to be a waste of time and that you'll meet people you wish you hadn't that's very likely exactly what your experience will be. On the other hand if you walk into the same event expecting to enjoy yourself, have some fun and meet some really interesting people you almost certainly will.

People experience you differently depending on your attitude. Being positive and thinking highly of the people you're interacting with is going to naturally influence the way they think about you, your professionalism, and whether or not they'd be willing to help you or refer you. You have near complete control over this as it's literally all in your head.

Try this little experiment for me. Prior to walking into your next networking event put together the most positive attitude you can possibly muster. Mind you this is in your head. I'm not asking you to walk into this event as the most outwardly "positive mental attitude" cheese ball you've ever met. What great feelings are you going to walk out of this meeting with? What type of people will you have met, and how were your interactions with them? How great do you feel now and imagine feeling even better walking out the door looking forward to following up with these incredible individuals.

Happy Networking!