What if I told you the most important tool for growing your business is free? It doesn’t require fancy business cards, a corner room, or an end app that tracks every data point in real time.
Network.
Networking fuels growth, builds relationships and grows your business.
We live in a world that moves at the speed of AI, where everything changes all at once. As we streamline every aspect of life to be faster and more efficient, it makes sense to modernize how our network is built. Before overhauling your networking style, it’s important to remember the basics, then build with new skills.
Network is everywhere, anytime
Every person you meet knows someone or something that you don’t. Get to know people on a human level, and if you admire what they’re doing, find ways to support them. Be open to random conversations in unexpected places, especially when you travel. I prepared speeches, made friends, and discovered opportunities by chatting with a seatmate on an airplane. Seatmate, I try to wait until I get in to listen in case my seatmate wants to have a quick chat before the plane takes off.
Create your own opportunities
If the invitations aren’t rolling in (yet), plug yourself into the spaces that really interest you. Love museums? Join a volunteer docent group or a youth volunteer group. Love chess? Find a club. Run away? Running groups are natural community builders with a wellness aspect. Shared passions naturally create connections that expand your network. The best networking happens when there are work and life conditions.
Look for real human connection
In a digital first world, people compromise authenticity. Host a networking breakfast with a friend and the two of you bring in three new people. Expanding your network often starts in the circles of people you know. If you like your friend, there’s a good chance you’ll like their friends. It makes holiday parties more fun when you walk in and know half the room.
Do your homework
If you want a meeting, make sure you prepare. Ask thoughtful questions that interest you, not questions you Googled or asked. Always be armed with a few interesting talking points or stories that make you memorable. If you can find a few commonalities between yourself and your date, be sure to bring them up
Use technology to stay on top of your mind
Update your network where you do and where you happen to be. I send a monthly newsletter about my work, talking badges, auctions, shopmy finds, favorite hotels and travel using mailChimp. When I meet new people, I immediately add them to the newsletter list so they know what I’m working on. Don’t underestimate the power of giving people a script when they’re not in the room.
Give back
Networking isn’t just about what you can get—it’s also about what you can give. A mentor they can lean on as you progress in your career. You’ll gain insights across generations, and often someone you once helped will reappear in your professional journey. A strong network grows both up and down.
In the words of my father: “Network or die.” Maybe not literally, if you don’t work, you might have a job. And don’t forget to have fun.