Is your networking not working? Part 1
Is your networking not working? – Tired of playing the networking game
Are you ready to change that? To make your Networking Powerful and Profitable. If that’s you then read this blog post.
Most people leave networking events with a pocket full of business cards and a bank account that looks exactly the same.
Not because networking doesn’t work, but because they treat it like a transaction instead of a relationship engine.
Here’s the truth I share on stage:
Time is limited. Money is abundant.
So why do we spend limited time chasing quick sales instead of building the relationships that create abundance?
At most events, people walk out having left the most valuable asset behind them in the room.
They leave the relationship.
This 3-part series will give you a simple system to make networking powerful and profitable without feeling salesy, awkward, or exhausted.
The real problem: “Selling” at networking
Networking fails when:
You show up trying to “get” instead of connecting
You pitch too early (or too vaguely)
You talk to everyone but build nothing
You don’t follow up with a plan
The goal of a great networker isn’t to “meet people.”
Your goal is to start quality relationships that turn into:
referrals
collaborations
clients
community
The mindset shift: from hunter to architect
Instead of going into the networking meeting asking yourself, “Who can I sell today?” Start asking “Who can I serve, support, and stay connected with?”
When you do that, you stop chasing outcomes and will start creating a pipeline.
The “Relationship ROI” rule
A great networking conversation should create at least one of these outcomes:
A follow-up conversation scheduled
A warm introduction to someone else
A collaboration idea, you can use to Serve your or the other persons customer or client
A clear next step (resource, invite, connection)
If none of those happen, it wasn’t networking—it was socializing.
Your Part 1 action plan: The 3 outcomes to aim for
Before your next event, decide your primary outcome:
Outcome # 1 to meet 3 strategic people (not 30 random ones)
Outcome # 2 to book 2 follow-up calls
Outcome # 3 to generate at least 1 collaboration conversation
Keep it simple. Consistency beats intensity. When you walk into the room with a heart to serve the right people one that should be attracted to you. When you walk into the room with the hopes to sell you are so be sold too and may miss out on the opportunity to serve your ideal client or customer.
Script: the easiest opener in the room
“Hey, what brought you here today?”
Then:
“What are you most excited to build this year?”
People love talking about what they’re creating, especially mission-driven builders. I have found that a good rule of thumb when talking to someone new is to ask at least 5 to 6 questions about who they are, what they do, or what some are their dreams and goals around their business and life. Then keep track of their answers and write them down on the back of a business card, or on a separate piece of paper. So later when you reach out to them you can follow up and address some of the things they shared with you.
Check out Part 2 and I’ll show you exactly what to do at the event. How to have better conversations, create natural next steps, and stop feeling like you have to pitch.
