Oh, you hate networking? How to Build Business Relationships Without Traditional Networking

Day 15 of 30 days of writing every day. And I'm here to address your rebuttle to networking.

You hate networking? Or do you just hate the rigamarole?

The one where you start panicking because you're wondering what you'll wear, what you'll say, and who will be there.

You hate networking because the thought of small talk with people gives you the heebie jeebies. You hate networking because putting on a mask, no matter how literal, is work.

You ready for the moment I kick you in the ass? Here goes 👉

Everyone else hates it too.

And that's why they're there. They're there because either they have either made a promise to themselves to make networking exactly what they're expecting or to make networking exactly the opposite.

WHAT IF WE ALL WALKED INTO THE ROOM...

and actually did what the host was asking of us?

What if we walked in, gates/doors/windows/blinds open instead of cracked, and really got down to it?

If you walked into a room and wasn't worried about anything but achieving the one goal you came with, what would that look like?

Because in my experience, it feels like connection. Walking out of a networking event feeling more connected either with yourself or another person is what deepens the roots of your network.

Like a spider web, a network is strongest at the center. Like a tree, a network is strongest when the roots are deep.

BUT WIDTH IS WHAT STABILIZES.

Think of a spider web. The further from the center, the wider and more delicate the holes. Useful, purposeful, stabilizing but not all that strong.

Now the tree. A strong tree grows deep and wide for both strength and stability. The further from the tree, the less grounding the root.

We need all types of people in our network.

People who ground us deep in our mission. People who understand who we are as individuals and how that impacts how we do business. People who can see us starving before we notice our we haven't eaten.

We need deep, grounding roots.

If you're finding yourself surrounded by shallow, thin roots; it might be time to grow deeper connections instead of wider ones.

HERE IS WHERE I HELP YOU GROW A DEEPER NETWORK.

Ask better questions.

Here are 5 questions you can keep in your back pocket for the next networking event that don't involve selling. Have your answers considered so in a pinch, you can offer some relief to the recipient. Bonus points if you consider follow up questions for each so you can keep the conversation flowing.

READ 👉 [ Would you notice if I were hungry? Building Business Relationships without Selling ]

1. What are you working on that has you excited?

2. How did you decide this industry was *the industry to start your business?

3. What are you hoping to get out of today?

4. What does your typical work day look like?

5. Were there any big pivots you've had to do in buisiness and how did you handle them?

You hate networking? Yeah, me too.

Now get out there and start asking some good questions.

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