4 Tips to Maximize Networking Conversations

At a recent networking event, I watched two very different approaches unfold. One attendee worked the room quickly, handing out business cards and delivering the same 30-second pitch to everyone he met. The other sat down with just a handful of people, asked thoughtful questions, and really listened to their answers. By the end of the event, the first person had a stack of cards—but little else. The second had made genuine connections, swapped stories, and even scheduled follow-up meetings.

This is the difference between surface-level networking and maximizing conversations. The real power of networking lies not in the quantity of interactions, but in the quality of conversations. A single, meaningful exchange can lead to opportunities that a dozen shallow interactions never could.

What I’ve Learned After One Year Running a Networking Group

When I first launched my local networking a year ago, I had a vision: to create a space where small business owners could connect, collaborate, and grow through real relationships—not just business cards and elevator pitches.

What we’ve built since then has exceeded anything I imagined.

Your Net-Work is Your Net Worth

Every time that I share my story...

the pain and the suffering as well as the comeback and success...

multiple people tell me how inspired, motivated, uplifted, and empowered they feel.

4 Networking Tips For Introverts (and Extroverts, too!)

Do you go to networking events?

And are you an introvert?

If you are, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed. How will you manage in a large, crowded space?

Good news! It doesn’t have to be scary or impossible to navigate.

To those who say otherwise, I say “B.S.!”

No. Not THAT B.S.

Here are my 4 “B.S.” networking strategies for #introverts.

Be Still
Be Strategic
Be Seen
Be Sticky

Lessons from My School Leadership Mastermind

When I launched my School Leadership Mastermind for school principals and administrators back in June, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It was my first time running a mastermind group of any kind and, while I had participated in and gained from other masterminds, running my own would be a totally different experience. Particularly in the throes of a COVID pandemic that had put school leaders back on their heels for months.

7 Action Steps to Pass Your Time Productively

Has your industry been deeply impacted by COVID19, such as education, travel, tourism, or event sales?

Are you stuck at home with little to do while you wait for the other coronavirus shoe to drop?

Many of us are experiencing unprecedented levels of disruption to our personal and professional lives.

We fear for our futures and wonder what we can do to make the best use of our time and position ourselves for immediate success as soon as the storm passes.

Here are some strategies for what to do with your newfound time:

Work on that neglected project – We all have things that we’ve wanted to do FOREVER, such as write that book, build that webpage, organize that event, whatever it is. Use the newfound time at your disposal to do that thing as if it was your actual job. Schedule it with meaningful time blocks and pursue it as if you have a deadline. Divide the job into chunks (such as X number of words typed per day) and stay focused on your goal until it is achieved. Click here for more about setting SMART goals that convert.

4 B.S. Networking Tips for Introverts

Do you go to networking events?

And are you an introvert?

If you are, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed. How will you manage in a large, crowded space?

Good news! It doesn’t have to be scary or impossible to navigate.

To those who say otherwise, I say “B.S.!”

No. Not THAT B.S.

Here are my 4 “B.S.” networking strategies for #introverts.

Be Still
Be Strategic
Be Seen
Be Sticky

Are our phones to blame, or are we?

I used to think that our phones were making us antisocial. Go on a train or walk into a room with lots of folks and you'll see almost everyone trained on their screens. This is so disheartening. And so common. But then I see pics of folks 50-100 years ago going off to work or waiting in line, each with a newspaper open before them. No conversation. No connection. Times, they really haven't been a 'changin.

Networking Tips for Introverts and Shy People

Networking is important. We all get that. But what do you do if you’re shy, introverted and/or struggle in social settings?

One workaround is social media. Many folks much prefer engaging from behind a picture or avatar than in person. While the quality of the engagement can often be more limited, there’s a ton that one can achieve by showing up authentically online, sharing great content and demonstrating real interest in others.

Another approach is to use FaceTime, Duo, Skype, Zoom or some other online audio/video chat platforms. It can be less intimidating for folks to talk through their technology and preserve their personal space than to actually get in the same room as them. It can also make connecting much easier from a logistical standpoint.

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