December 4, 2023 • 38 mins
Have you ever felt like networking was daunting or exclusively an extrovert's game? You're not alone. I am an introvert myself, yet I discovered that networking was my secret weapon to boost my business. In this week's Brilliant Business, Beautiful Life podcast episode, we are smashing networking misconceptions and shining a light on how it's evolved into a powerful tool for women entrepreneurs. I'm eager to guide you through my personal experience and journey with networking, showing you how it enriched my business and how it can do the same for you.
Did you know that networking has the potential to unlock a treasure trove of insights into other businesses and industries? Join us as we explore the incredible value networking brings to your business growth and success. We'll unravel how networking events can ignite fresh ideas for your business and discuss the importance of cultivating authentic connections. And it's not just about business events; even your hobbies can become excellent networking opportunities. The world of online networking is another gem we'll explore, revealing how it can connect you globally and enhance your business prospects.
As we wrap up, we delve into the importance of personal branding in networking. Discover the magic of storytelling, the power of a captivating elevator pitch, and why authenticity and consistency in your online and offline presence are key.
Whether you're an introvert, shy, or simply new to networking, I implore you to embrace this practice as it has now changed into an inclusive and supportive environment. Let's grow personally and professionally together, strengthening our networks and the women's business community.
Tune in for a power-packed episode that will elevate your networking game!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Samantha Bell (00:00):
Hello, hello, and welcome back to the Brilliant
Business, Beautiful Life podcast.
The last two weeks, we've beenchatting about elevating your
business advanced strategies forwomen in business, and today is
part three of the series, soI'm going to just jump right
into it.
What is one of the most commonquestions that you hear among
(00:22):
service business owners?
I think it would be 'How do Iget more sales?
' Right?
And it's a great questionbecause without sales, you don't
have a business, and as abusiness owner, you're
constantly looking for more waysto reach more people, generate
more leads, sales and profits.
Now, there are lots of ways togenerate new business, but
(00:47):
rather than cold calling,sending random DMs to Instagram
followers and paying forFacebook ads, there is a better
way that's far more enjoyableand more effective, which will
leave you wishing you'd starteddoing it earlier, if you haven't
already.
In this episode, we're talkingabout a way of growing your
(01:08):
business that many, many, manywomen shy away from for as long
as possible because it feelsicky, and I put myself in that
group too.
I've put this off for far toolong, and I'm kicking myself
that I did, but it's actually anactivity that can exponentially
grow your business, and it isnetworking.
(01:31):
Welcome to the BrilliantBusiness, Beautiful Life podcast
, where we share simple,actionable strategies plus the
mindset and wellness practicesyou need to build the business
and life you love.
Head to 16thavecreative.
com/playbook and download yourfree guide to design the
business and life you deserve,today.
(01:53):
I'm your host, Samantha Bell,and this is the Brilliant
Business, Beautiful Life podcast.
Are you ready for the businessand life of your dreams?
Let's get started Now.
I get it.
There are some very negativeconnotations associated with
networking and when most peoplehear the word, they think of
(02:14):
multilevel networking or oldwhite men in a stuffy room or
being trapped in a pushy, salesy, incredibly uncomfortable
environment, especially ifyou're a little introverted.
But networking has changed andit is one of the most powerful,
effective and rewarding ways andeven fun ways that you can grow
(02:39):
your business.
Modern networking, particularlywhen it's done inside women's
business networking groups, haschanged for the better and it
truly is a wonderful opportunityto grow your business and get
more support from like-mindedwomen along the way.
So let's talk about how you canapproach networking with calm
(03:03):
and authenticity and getcomfortable really comfortable
putting yourself out there andwhy you should do it.
So what is the essence ofnetworking.
Porter Gale says 'Your networkis your net worth.
' You've probably heard thatsaying before, and it really
hits the nail on the head.
(03:23):
Especially for us as women inbusiness, networking is all
about who you know and thesupport squad you build around
you.
Modern networking is justgetting a group of awesome women
entrepreneurs together who areall at different stages of their
business and building yourpersonal business tribe, and
(03:47):
it's where you can pick up gemsof wisdom from those women
who've already been there anddone that.
And it's also a wonderfulopportunity for you to pay it
forward and help out other womenwho are just starting out too.
In business.
It can sometimes feel likeyou're all alone.
You've got a whirlwind of ideas, you're doing all the hard work
(04:10):
and you probably also feel alittle bit of doubt about things
that you're doing and whetheryou should or shouldn't.
And that's where your tribesteps in, because they get it.
They understand all the latenights, the crazy amount of
dedication and all those 3 amaha moments that just wake up
(04:32):
your mind and spin around inyour head.
They get it and building thistribe it's like having friends
who not only get your strugglesbut they cheer you on, they
share their tips and sometimesthey're just there to listen
when you need it, without anyjudgment, and having this kind
of support network is gold.
(04:55):
They are your go-to for advice,a good laugh and just a reality
check when you need it.
And that sounds so much betterthan the old preconceptions
around networking, doesn't it?
Networking really grows yourbusiness, which is the goal, but
it's more than that.
Networking is growing withpeople who share your vibe and
(05:19):
your vision, and it adds valuenot just to your business but to
your life.
If you're new here, hello.
I'm Samantha Bell.
I'm the Founder and CreativeDirector of 16th Ave Creative
Studio, which is a one-stopsolution for women and
entrepreneurs around the worldto start and grow their service
(05:41):
businesses through Squarespacewebsite design, copywriting,
brand design and email marketingservices.
I'm also the host of thispodcast and course creator of
Startup Success, and I talkabout all things
entrepreneurship, building anonline service business and
creating a life you adore.
So hello and welcome.
It's wonderful to have you hereand it would be fabulous if you
(06:05):
like, and subscribe to thepodcast so that you never miss
an episode Plus.
It also helps me to be able tokeep creating more great content
and help even more women growtheir own amazing businesses too
.
So let's jump back intonetworking.
Is it worth the time?
Is it just worth it?
If you're anything like me,when running your business, you
(06:28):
spend a whole lot of timeplanning and implementing
marketing strategies to increaseyour reach, to build your
audience and to bring in morebusiness.
Because, after all, without astrong marketing process, you
miss out on new leads, whichmeans you don't even have the
opportunity for all thoseimportant sales conversations or
(06:51):
being able to make offers topotential new clients.
It basically means yourbusiness doesn't grow and you
don't make any money.
When I started my business, thelast thing that I wanted to do,
or had even considered doing,was networking.
I'm an introvert, I hate bigcrowds, I don't enjoy small talk
(07:15):
and I really prefer spendingtime with a few close friends or
loved ones in a more intimateenvironment.
That's what lights me up andthat's where I shine, and that
means for me, networking is myabsolute nightmare.
The very thought of walkinginto a room that's full of
(07:35):
strangers and talking aboutmyself literally gives me huge
levels of anxiety.
I've always just really admiredthose wonderful women who can
walk confidently into any roomanywhere and just own it, and
those amazing extroverts whokeep everyone entertained with
(07:57):
their stories and personalities.
But that's just not me.
And surprisingly I foundthrough my business journey it's
not a lot of other femalebusiness owners either.
There's a lot of us introvertsout there.
But what I've learned over theyears in my business is that
(08:18):
without networking with otherwonderful quality women in
business, I'm holding myselfback, because spending time with
them is actually the bestreturn on investment of any
other marketing activity in mybusiness.
And it's not just that, it alsofills my cup.
(08:41):
You know spending time withwomen who are doing what you're
doing.
They're in the trenches,they're working hard every day.
They've got their big dreams,goals and desires and they're
working towards them and chasingthem.
They know what you're goingthrough.
It's great to be surrounded bythose people, because usually
(09:04):
all the people in your family orin your friends group or your
normal life the large proportionof them don't have their own
businesses.
They go to work and they get apaycheck at the end of the day,
so they don't understand why youdo it.
They don't know the dailystruggles, they don't know all
(09:24):
the hats that you juggle.
So being in a room full ofwomen who just get it and are
doing it every single day isempowering, and it's a safe
place where you can reallysupport each other and nut
things out together and create awhole other level of
friendships that can take youthrough the tough times.
(09:46):
And, thankfully, the groupsthat I'm a part of they're
nothing like those sleazy,salesy environments that you
imagine networking groups to be,and I really thoroughly enjoy
my time in them.
So when you think aboutnetworking, I want you to get
out of your head the thoughtsthat they are sleasy and Salesy.
(10:09):
I also, importantly, want youto remove selling from your mind
.
This is key.
Contrary to what you might think, the key to growing your
business through networking isnot about sales or selling.
It's all about relationships.
How many times have you heardthe saying, 'It' s not what you
(10:32):
know, but who you know?
' Forbes Magazine, LinkedIn andother studies all show that 80
to 85% of people get their jobsor secure new business through
networking, and that's prettypowerful.
85%.
That means out of all yourmarketing efforts.
(10:53):
If you include networking,almost eight to nine out of 10
new clients or opportunitieswill come to you from your
networking.
So if you're not networking,you are leaving money and
opportunity on the table.
That's part of the power ofconnection.
(11:15):
The women who know you and likeyou and understand what you do
and see the value you provide toyour own clients, they will
happily refer other businessesor other clients to you and
you'll do the same for them.
It's a beautiful, genuine wayof not just growing your
business but helping other womendo the same, and you can build
(11:37):
some wonderful relationshipsalong the way that become more
than just a business buddy but afriend who can travel the
journey with you.
It doesn't usually cost much,apart from your time, to join a
networking group.
There's always joining fees andmonthly fees, but they're quite
small and in comparison to whatyou get out of them, the cost
(12:01):
is quite low.
The returns are what's big, andjoining these groups will give
you so much.
It will increase your brandawareness.
It'll give you opportunities tocollaborate with other women,
get referrals for your business,build your email list, discuss
challenges and problems,celebrate all those wins the
(12:23):
little ones, the big ones andthe ones in between.
You can use it as a forum topractice your pitches, to learn
from people who are far moreexperienced than you.
There's so much good that cancome from getting outside your
comfort zone and getting intonetworking.
(12:44):
Now here's how to makenetworking work for you.
Even if you're an introvertlike me, there really is no
excuse not to take this on.
This isn't the place to searchfor quick sales.
Remember I said networking isnot about sales.
I want you to get sales andselling out of your mind.
Networking is a long game, justlike your business is, so go
(13:08):
into it with the attitude ofbuilding lovely relationships
that you enjoy, and if you dothat, it means you'll stick with
it more long term.
And we are always learning, andgoing to networking events is a
wonderful way to increase yourknowledge of business in general
, while also learning moredeeply about other industries
(13:29):
that you don't know anythingabout, and how they approach
sales, how they do theirmarketing, what challenges they
face and the growthopportunities that all these
activities provide, becausegetting insights into other
industries can give you anotherway of thinking about your own
and give you ideas for doingthings differently in your own
(13:50):
business that will benefit youlong term.
You don't get that if you'renot exposed to this, so it's a
great way of getting exposure tothings that are outside of your
wheelhouse, and it's great tostep outside, isn't it?
Learning also keeps it reallyinteresting, and you'll likely
learn something very valuablefrom every single networking
(14:13):
event that you attend.
Keep your mind and your earsopen and make the most of all
that wonderful opportunity thatsurrounds you.
Practice using that growthmindset that I often talk about,
because, when you least expectit, you will have a random
conversation and it will giveyou new ideas, lead to new
(14:34):
experiences, open new doors thatweren't available to you before
.
So it's really important to getout of your wheelhouse, get out
of your comfort zone and justjump into this and remember to
give.
Remember that all relationshipsare a two-way street.
(14:54):
No one likes a taker.
You need to give more than youtake and, just like we use
value-based marketing in ourbusinesses, think of this as
value-first networking,value-based networking.
This is where you flip thescript and you offer help before
you ever think of asking foranything.
(15:17):
Imagine the power of going intoa conversation and you think to
yourself 'How can I help thisperson?
' Rather than thinking 'What canI get out of this?
'Because networking is about
building genuine connectionswhere giving comes before
receiving, and this approach isbeautiful.
(15:39):
It not only feels more natural,but it usually leads to
stronger and more meaningfulrelationships in the long run.
And even if you're not asadvanced in your business as
someone else is in the group,you might feel like you don't
have anything to contribute, butyou do.
You will still have knowledgeand insights and experience that
(16:02):
they don't have, so share it.
They might be in a differentindustry to you.
They may not have experiencedwhat you have in your business,
so even though you mightperceive that they're further
ahead than you, they can stilllearn from you too.
It's a two-way street and thisprocess is a beautiful
supportive environment whereeveryone feels equal and valued,
(16:26):
and it can also help you tobecome known as a thought leader
on certain topics within yourindustry, and what you'll find
is you'll have people coming upto you for advice or they'll be
talking to someone else and say,oh, go and talk to Mary about
that, because she knows allabout that, and eventually
(16:47):
you'll have people referringclients to you as well, in a
beautiful, organic way where youhaven't made anyone feel icky
or uncomfortable, you haven'tdone a sales pitch.
It's just people getting toknow you and know your knowledge
and value on different topics,and then they feel comfortable
(17:08):
talking about you to otherpeople, and that is the highest
form of compliment you canreceive and is also going to
give you really valuable leadsand valuable referrals that are
more likely to justautomatically say yes to you
than if you had done traditionalmarketing outreach because it's
(17:32):
that lovely, organic, realconnection.
Just remember that you get whenyou give, but you've got to be
genuine in the giving.
It's really worthwhile, andwhen you do start to give of
your time, your knowledge andyour skills, it opens up the
door to work with otherbusinesses and get really
(17:54):
creative on collaboratingtogether, and this can be so
much fun.
It gets the creative juicesflowing, it exposes you to an
entirely new audience who didn'tknow about you before, and it
gives the opportunity to createa new offering or a new product
suite or to collaborate on othernew ideas that you would not
(18:15):
have even thought of before.
So I would say that's a reallymassive win for everyone
involved.
So spending time with differentpeople is going to present you
with new ways of thinking andthat will challenge you.
It will spark your creativityor get your curious mind working
(18:35):
, it will open up yourperceptions and it will give you
more ability to innovate and tocreate within your business and
it's also going to enrich anddiversify your networking
experience, giving you moreauthentic, valuable, meaningful
exchanges with the women in yourgroup.
(18:58):
Now there are other ways ofnetworking which aren't
generally considered networking,and I call them non-networking.
So think about your hobbies oryour passions outside of your
work or your business.
Maybe you love hiking, maybeyou love painting or you love
yoga.
There are events and groups forthese interests and they can be
(19:21):
gold mines for networking,because when you meet people in
these relaxed settings, you'realready starting off with
something in common.
You're not walking into a roomthinking, oh my goodness, what
am I going to talk about?
Because you've already got thatcommonality.
So the conversations will flowmore easily and the connection
(19:43):
is more authentic because it'snot forced and it's not purely
business focused.
You're not trying to think, oh,I hope I'm not being too salesy
or I hope I'm keeping sales outof the conversation.
How do I get people to know me?
You can just talk naturally andthe conversation will flow.
And here's the thing aboutnon-networking it doesn't feel
(20:06):
like networking.
It feels like you're makingfriends, and isn't that what the
best business relationshipsoften are?
They become friendships foundedon mutual interests and respect
, and these kind of connectionscan be far more powerful than
any other connection you'remaking your business.
(20:28):
Another great strategy fornetworking is online networking
going into different onlinecommunities like social media
groups and forums and onlineworkshops that are related to
your interests, like yoga orhiking or the industry that your
business is in, and they can befantastic places to network.
(20:49):
And engaging in these onlinespaces it opens up the world
even more.
You can connect with peoplefrom every part of the globe,
people you would never normallyhave the chance to meet
otherwise.
And because these interactionsoften start with discussions or
sharing knowledge or someone'sasked a question that you know
(21:12):
the answer to, or they're justthat interest base, they lay a
really great foundation forbuilding a professional
relationship too.
Another thing to think about inyour networking is local
community events.
It's so good to get involved inyour community, to do things
(21:33):
with and for the people who livearound you and to do business
with businesses in your localcommunity.
Community is powerful, sogetting involved in your
community projects or attendinglocal meetups, it can be
unexpectedly rewarding.
You're not just building yournetwork, it's because you can be
(21:57):
contributing to your communitythat makes it feel good on so
many levels.
Plus, you never know who youmight meet.
You could meet your next bigclient, you could meet your
future business partner.
They could be right there inyour own neighbourhood.
Now we've talked about all thewarm and fuzzy elements of
(22:17):
modern networking, so I'm goingto balance that out with what
often makes people feel icky thefollow-up.
When you meet someone at anevent or you connect on LinkedIn
or you've had a great chatabout your business or about
your hobbies, what comes next?
This is where the magic happens.
It happens in that ickyfollow-up.
(22:39):
So it's about making thefollow-up not icky.
It's not just about sending anice note or a text saying oh
nice to meet you, because that'sreally boring and doesn't lead
into the connection that you'vejust made.
Think about the connectionyou've made.
What was it about that personthat you really connected with?
(23:03):
What about your conversationlit you up or got you curious or
made you think about adifferent possibility or
opportunity that you hadn'tthought of before?
What about that person wasamazing?
So think about that and weavethat into your follow-up.
(23:23):
It's about nurturing thatinitial connection and growing
it into a meaningfulrelationship.
Think of it like planting aseed.
You've got to water it to helpit grow, and the first step in
following up is your timing.
You don't want to wait weeksand let that initial spark fade
(23:43):
out, and then they'll think, oh,who is this person that's just
saying, oh, nice to meet you?
Oh, I don't even remember them.
Because quite often people meetso many people, particularly at
these events, that if you don'tget in touch with them or work
on that connection straight away, you're lost from their mind.
You might have been thinking Oh, yes, I've got to get back in
(24:06):
touch.
What do I say?
What do I do?
And in doing so, you'veactually broken that connection.
So, after you've first met,make it a point of reaching out
to them within the first day ortwo after meeting them, and this
shows that you're interestedand you're proactive.
But you're not pushy.
(24:27):
You haven't got in the car andsent them a text straight away.
And oh, here's my business cardon my website.
It's not about that.
Your message should be personal.
Continue that beautifulconnection you just had and
build on that.
So talk about something that lityou up in the conversation.
Remind them of that.
(24:48):
Talk about how you'd love tochat further about that, or, if
they're local to you, how youcan possibly meet up in person
again, are they going to thenext networking event, things
like that.
Keep it real.
That's basically all you needto do.
Keep it real.
Think of it like building afriendship.
Now, how you follow up it canvary.
(25:11):
If it's purely a professionalconnection, you can send them a
LinkedIn message or an email.
But if it was more casual,maybe send them a text, give
them a phone call, send them aDM on social media, whatever you
feel is going to fit the bestwith the type of connection
you've made.
Do that.
(25:32):
Don't have a set hard and fastapproach like oh I have met this
person at this networking event, I must send this email,
because that's robotic andboring and impersonal and
they'll disconnect from youstraight away.
Keep it personal, keep itcomfortable.
Keep it feeling natural andbeautiful for both of you.
(25:53):
Now I want to talk more aboutthe content of your follow-up.
Remember, this is not aboutsales.
You're not selling here.
You're trying to build arelationship and you want to
keep sales out of it.
So think about how you can addvalue to this person.
(26:13):
For example, just say you'veconnected at a yoga event or a
yoga retreat, and so it's moreof a personal connection level.
What you can do is think aboutI read this really great article
on a new yoga practice.
Maybe Jenny would love that Imight just enter that and see if
(26:35):
she'd like it.
You're giving her somethingthat she's interested in that
could potentially be useful andkeeps the conversation going.
You're giving, you're nottaking, and doing your follow-up
in this way can really be thestart of a great relationship.
You've got to remember it'sabout giving, not just taking.
(26:56):
Even though you may haveconnected on a personal level,
it can translate into aprofessional relationship too,
particularly if they have abusiness.
And even if they don't,everyone knows someone who's
going to want what you have, sothey can refer people to you and
(27:17):
that's how it crosses over intothe professional realm without
it being all businessy.
Does that make sense?
And one thing to consider toois consistency is crucial.
One follow-up isn't enough tobuild a really strong connection
.
You've got to keep thatconversation going, check in now
(27:39):
and then share things, beresponsive when they reach out
back to you.
It's about building that trustand showing you're really
interested in that person in along-term relationship, not just
a one-off chat.
Remember the key word there wasperson.
You're interested in the personand, lastly, you've got to be
(27:59):
patient.
Not every follow-up is going toturn into an opportunity.
Not every follow-up is going toturn into a relationship.
Some people won't respond.
Some people will be overwhelmedor they'll think, oh yeah, I
thought I connected with thatperson, but I really didn't.
So they're not going to respondto you and that's okay, because
you're approaching this asbuilding a relationship.
(28:22):
You're coming from a kind,genuine, supportive, heartfelt
way.
So you're looking atcultivating a relationship and
if they don't want that, that'stheir prerogative, isn't it?
And you've got to be okay withthat.
So be patient.
Follow-up (28:39):
If it works out, fantastic.
If it doesn't, that's okay.
There will be other people andother relationships.
The follow-up is where it allbegins.
So just take the time, do itright and you'll really start to
watch your network of businesswomen around you blossom and
grow.
(29:00):
Now, when we're talking aboutnetworking, it's pretty
impossible not to touch onpersonal branding, because they
go hand in hand, like yourmorning coffee and sunshine.
Your personal brand isessentially your story and it's
how you present yourself to theworld offline, online and in
(29:21):
person.
So let's chat about how yourpersonal brand is super, super,
super important when you're outthere networking, because it's
like your business' personality.
It is what makes you.
You Think about this have youever been to someone's website
or their social media and thenyou've met them in person and
(29:44):
you've thought, oh, is that eventhe same person?
If you have that feeling, it'sbecause that person is not being
themselves in one of thoseareas.
They're either not beingthemselves in their business, in
the online realm, or they'renot being themselves in person,
and that's a really key thing tothink about.
(30:07):
Think about how you presentyourself online and how you
present yourself in person.
Are they the same?
Do they match?
Do they make sense?
Is someone going to meet you inperson and say, oh hey, I saw
you on your social media andit's so nice to meet you in
person and really connect withyou because you're the same
person?
Or are they going to say, oh,you're totally different.
(30:31):
Oh, I didn't connect the dots.
You don't want that to happen.
You need to be real.
So every conversation you have,every email you send, every
social media post you do needsto be authentic and it's really
a chance to show you and what isunique about you and your
business, and it's not justabout what you do but how you do
(30:55):
it and also your why.
And consistency is your bestfriend here, whether it is your
social media, your networkingevent or sending those emails.
Keep your messaging, keep yourstyle, keep everything
consistent, because it helpspeople to remember who you are.
It's like leaving littlebreadcrumbs that are going to
(31:16):
lead them right back to you andeventually right back to your
business.
And being real is what counts.
Your personal brand shouldtotally reflect the real you,
because people can spot a fake amile away and, let's be honest,
being yourself is way easierthan trying to be someone else.
So when you're genuine, youbuild trust, and trust is
(31:41):
everything in business.
Now I'll make the distinctionhere between being shy and being
introverted and being real.
Quite often for introverts orpeople who are shy, they'll walk
into a room and they don't feelthemselves so initially they're
not presenting as themselves.
That doesn't mean they're beingdisingenuine.
(32:03):
It just means they're findingtheir way to feel comfortable in
that space, and it can takethem some time.
So if you do meet someone whois different from their socials
or their website or their emailsor how you have perceived them,
if you've seen them beforehand,give them a chance, give them
(32:26):
some space, make them feelwelcome, make them feel
comfortable, and then you aremore likely to see the real them
, because, remember, it is atwo-way street.
You've got to give, you've gotto be supportive of the other
person, put yourself in theirshoes.
Remember what it felt like foryou to walk into a room where
(32:49):
you didn't know anyone for thevery first time, and how awkward
and uncomfortable and unlikeyou you most likely felt.
Just remember that when you'remeeting someone because they are
most likely feeling thatthemselves, and by coming at it
from this perspective, you areadding on to that beautiful
supportive environment that youwant to be in.
(33:11):
You want to create thatenvironment for the other people
around you too.
Another thing to being real,being true, being yourself, is
storytelling.
Tell your story.
People love stories.
They actually do want to knowabout you.
They want to know your journey,your ups and downs and the
(33:32):
dreams that drive you.
Stories are what stick inpeople's minds way more than
facts.
So, sharing your story, it'sreally like you're inviting
people into your world and theylike that.
And that is an easy way toconnect with people, because
you're not selling anything.
(33:52):
You're just inviting them intoyour world and you're sharing.
So, when you share, that'swhere you're opening doors.
Now, this isn't selling, but youneed to have an elevator pitch.
Don't think of your elevatorpitch as a sales tool, which it
is, but you need to have anelevator pitch.
(34:15):
And if you don't create one andall it is is a really quick,
catchy summary of who you areand what your business is all
about, make it snappy, make itshine.
Most importantly, make it aboutyou.
Make it you authentic to you,because what you can do is use
this elevator pitch as youricebreaker.
(34:37):
You walk into that room you'venever been into before, with
people you've never seen before.
You don't know what to say.
This gives you the words to say.
It can take some stress awayfrom you.
It can make it a little biteasier.
So do that.
Create your elevator pitch andpractice it so that when it
comes out of your mouth, itfeels like you talking to a
(34:59):
friend, it feels natural, it'snot forced, you're not thinking,
oh, what were those words I wasmeant to say, because it's just
flowing.
It needs to flow, it needs tobe real and it needs to be
comfortable.
You have to be comfortablesaying it.
So practice it.
Get in front of the mirror andsay it to yourself over and over
and over.
You'll need to read it at first, most likely.
So do that, just keeppracticing it.
(35:21):
Get it so that it's on the tipof your tongue and you can just
spit that out wherever, wheneveryou are.
And a good rule of thumb is tothink about it Like, is this
going to make sense to someonewho knows nothing about me,
nothing about what I do, nothingabout business?
(35:42):
If I say this to someone at acocktail party, will this make
sense, and can we connect overit?
That's a really good test, areally good rule of thumb for
creating your elevator pitch.
And, lastly, give it time.
Building your personal brand isagain like growing that garden
(36:03):
it doesn't happen overnight.
You've got to nurture it,you've got to water it, you've
got to pay it some beautifulattention.
So stay true to yourself.
Keep sharing your story andyour brand will grow, just like
your business does.
So, to wrap it up, yourpersonal brand is a huge part of
(36:23):
networking.
Be consistent, be real, shareyour story, have a killer
elevator pitch, be helpful andgive it time and, trust me,
it'll make your networking notjust more successful but a whole
lot more fun and easy, too.
As we finish up this episode, Iwant to encourage every single
woman listening, especially theshy and the introverted among us
(36:47):
.
I want to encourage and, infact, challenge you to embrace
the world of networking.
Modern female networking is afar cry from the old, rigid
perceptions that you may have.
It is about authenticconnections, shared experiences
and mutual support and respect.
(37:08):
It's networking that doesn'tjust grow your business, it's
networking that enriches yourlife.
Now I really hope this episodehas opened your eyes to the
enjoyable and rewarding side ofnetworking.
Remember, it's about findingwhat works for you and making
genuine connections thatresonate with you personally and
(37:32):
professionally.
So go ahead, step out of yourcomfort zone, discover the
incredible opportunities thatawait you in the world of
networking.
Because you've got this.
Now, you won't want to missnext week on the podcast.
It's part four of our seriesabout elevating your business,
about strategies for women inbusiness, and it's all about
(37:56):
innovating and adapting so thatyou can stay ahead even when the
world changes around you.
So stay brilliant, staybeautiful, and I'll see you next
week.
Thanks for being here.
Thanks so much for listening.
I'd love to know your biggesttakeaway from today's episode.
(38:17):
So leave me a comment below orsend a DM on Instagram.
If you enjoyed this episode,hit the subscribe button
wherever you listen to theBrilliant Business, Beautiful
Life podcast, and feel free toshare it with someone else
who'll love it too.
I look forward to seeing youfor the next episode and
remember the time is now foryour Brilliant Business and the
(38:38):
beautiful life you adore.
Hello, hello, and welcome back to the Brilliant
Business, Beautiful Life podcast.
The last two weeks, we've beenchatting about elevating your
business advanced strategies forwomen in business, and today is
part three of the series, soI'm going to just jump right
into it.
What is one of the most commonquestions that you hear among
(00:22):
service business owners?
I think it would be 'How do Iget more sales?
' Right?
And it's a great questionbecause without sales, you don't
have a business, and as abusiness owner, you're
constantly looking for more waysto reach more people, generate
more leads, sales and profits.
Now, there are lots of ways togenerate new business, but
(00:47):
rather than cold calling,sending random DMs to Instagram
followers and paying forFacebook ads, there is a better
way that's far more enjoyableand more effective, which will
leave you wishing you'd starteddoing it earlier, if you haven't
already.
In this episode, we're talkingabout a way of growing your
(01:08):
business that many, many, manywomen shy away from for as long
as possible because it feelsicky, and I put myself in that
group too.
I've put this off for far toolong, and I'm kicking myself
that I did, but it's actually anactivity that can exponentially
grow your business, and it isnetworking.
(01:31):
Welcome to the BrilliantBusiness, Beautiful Life podcast
, where we share simple,actionable strategies plus the
mindset and wellness practicesyou need to build the business
and life you love.
Head to 16thavecreative.
com/playbook and download yourfree guide to design the
business and life you deserve,today.
(01:53):
I'm your host, Samantha Bell,and this is the Brilliant
Business, Beautiful Life podcast.
Are you ready for the businessand life of your dreams?
Let's get started Now.
I get it.
There are some very negativeconnotations associated with
networking and when most peoplehear the word, they think of
(02:14):
multilevel networking or oldwhite men in a stuffy room or
being trapped in a pushy, salesy, incredibly uncomfortable
environment, especially ifyou're a little introverted.
But networking has changed andit is one of the most powerful,
effective and rewarding ways andeven fun ways that you can grow
(02:39):
your business.
Modern networking, particularlywhen it's done inside women's
business networking groups, haschanged for the better and it
truly is a wonderful opportunityto grow your business and get
more support from like-mindedwomen along the way.
So let's talk about how you canapproach networking with calm
(03:03):
and authenticity and getcomfortable really comfortable
putting yourself out there andwhy you should do it.
So what is the essence ofnetworking.
Porter Gale says 'Your networkis your net worth.
' You've probably heard thatsaying before, and it really
hits the nail on the head.
(03:23):
Especially for us as women inbusiness, networking is all
about who you know and thesupport squad you build around
you.
Modern networking is justgetting a group of awesome women
entrepreneurs together who areall at different stages of their
business and building yourpersonal business tribe, and
(03:47):
it's where you can pick up gemsof wisdom from those women
who've already been there anddone that.
And it's also a wonderfulopportunity for you to pay it
forward and help out other womenwho are just starting out too.
In business.
It can sometimes feel likeyou're all alone.
You've got a whirlwind of ideas, you're doing all the hard work
(04:10):
and you probably also feel alittle bit of doubt about things
that you're doing and whetheryou should or shouldn't.
And that's where your tribesteps in, because they get it.
They understand all the latenights, the crazy amount of
dedication and all those 3 amaha moments that just wake up
(04:32):
your mind and spin around inyour head.
They get it and building thistribe it's like having friends
who not only get your strugglesbut they cheer you on, they
share their tips and sometimesthey're just there to listen
when you need it, without anyjudgment, and having this kind
of support network is gold.
(04:55):
They are your go-to for advice,a good laugh and just a reality
check when you need it.
And that sounds so much betterthan the old preconceptions
around networking, doesn't it?
Networking really grows yourbusiness, which is the goal, but
it's more than that.
Networking is growing withpeople who share your vibe and
(05:19):
your vision, and it adds valuenot just to your business but to
your life.
If you're new here, hello.
I'm Samantha Bell.
I'm the Founder and CreativeDirector of 16th Ave Creative
Studio, which is a one-stopsolution for women and
entrepreneurs around the worldto start and grow their service
(05:41):
businesses through Squarespacewebsite design, copywriting,
brand design and email marketingservices.
I'm also the host of thispodcast and course creator of
Startup Success, and I talkabout all things
entrepreneurship, building anonline service business and
creating a life you adore.
So hello and welcome.
It's wonderful to have you hereand it would be fabulous if you
(06:05):
like, and subscribe to thepodcast so that you never miss
an episode Plus.
It also helps me to be able tokeep creating more great content
and help even more women growtheir own amazing businesses too
.
So let's jump back intonetworking.
Is it worth the time?
Is it just worth it?
If you're anything like me,when running your business, you
(06:28):
spend a whole lot of timeplanning and implementing
marketing strategies to increaseyour reach, to build your
audience and to bring in morebusiness.
Because, after all, without astrong marketing process, you
miss out on new leads, whichmeans you don't even have the
opportunity for all thoseimportant sales conversations or
(06:51):
being able to make offers topotential new clients.
It basically means yourbusiness doesn't grow and you
don't make any money.
When I started my business, thelast thing that I wanted to do,
or had even considered doing,was networking.
I'm an introvert, I hate bigcrowds, I don't enjoy small talk
(07:15):
and I really prefer spendingtime with a few close friends or
loved ones in a more intimateenvironment.
That's what lights me up andthat's where I shine, and that
means for me, networking is myabsolute nightmare.
The very thought of walkinginto a room that's full of
(07:35):
strangers and talking aboutmyself literally gives me huge
levels of anxiety.
I've always just really admiredthose wonderful women who can
walk confidently into any roomanywhere and just own it, and
those amazing extroverts whokeep everyone entertained with
(07:57):
their stories and personalities.
But that's just not me.
And surprisingly I foundthrough my business journey it's
not a lot of other femalebusiness owners either.
There's a lot of us introvertsout there.
But what I've learned over theyears in my business is that
(08:18):
without networking with otherwonderful quality women in
business, I'm holding myselfback, because spending time with
them is actually the bestreturn on investment of any
other marketing activity in mybusiness.
And it's not just that, it alsofills my cup.
(08:41):
You know spending time withwomen who are doing what you're
doing.
They're in the trenches,they're working hard every day.
They've got their big dreams,goals and desires and they're
working towards them and chasingthem.
They know what you're goingthrough.
It's great to be surrounded bythose people, because usually
(09:04):
all the people in your family orin your friends group or your
normal life the large proportionof them don't have their own
businesses.
They go to work and they get apaycheck at the end of the day,
so they don't understand why youdo it.
They don't know the dailystruggles, they don't know all
(09:24):
the hats that you juggle.
So being in a room full ofwomen who just get it and are
doing it every single day isempowering, and it's a safe
place where you can reallysupport each other and nut
things out together and create awhole other level of
friendships that can take youthrough the tough times.
(09:46):
And, thankfully, the groupsthat I'm a part of they're
nothing like those sleazy,salesy environments that you
imagine networking groups to be,and I really thoroughly enjoy
my time in them.
So when you think aboutnetworking, I want you to get
out of your head the thoughtsthat they are sleasy and Salesy.
(10:09):
I also, importantly, want youto remove selling from your mind
.
This is key.
Contrary to what you might think, the key to growing your
business through networking isnot about sales or selling.
It's all about relationships.
How many times have you heardthe saying, 'It' s not what you
(10:32):
know, but who you know?
' Forbes Magazine, LinkedIn andother studies all show that 80
to 85% of people get their jobsor secure new business through
networking, and that's prettypowerful.
85%.
That means out of all yourmarketing efforts.
(10:53):
If you include networking,almost eight to nine out of 10
new clients or opportunitieswill come to you from your
networking.
So if you're not networking,you are leaving money and
opportunity on the table.
That's part of the power ofconnection.
(11:15):
The women who know you and likeyou and understand what you do
and see the value you provide toyour own clients, they will
happily refer other businessesor other clients to you and
you'll do the same for them.
It's a beautiful, genuine wayof not just growing your
business but helping other womendo the same, and you can build
(11:37):
some wonderful relationshipsalong the way that become more
than just a business buddy but afriend who can travel the
journey with you.
It doesn't usually cost much,apart from your time, to join a
networking group.
There's always joining fees andmonthly fees, but they're quite
small and in comparison to whatyou get out of them, the cost
(12:01):
is quite low.
The returns are what's big, andjoining these groups will give
you so much.
It will increase your brandawareness.
It'll give you opportunities tocollaborate with other women,
get referrals for your business,build your email list, discuss
challenges and problems,celebrate all those wins the
(12:23):
little ones, the big ones andthe ones in between.
You can use it as a forum topractice your pitches, to learn
from people who are far moreexperienced than you.
There's so much good that cancome from getting outside your
comfort zone and getting intonetworking.
(12:44):
Now here's how to makenetworking work for you.
Even if you're an introvertlike me, there really is no
excuse not to take this on.
This isn't the place to searchfor quick sales.
Remember I said networking isnot about sales.
I want you to get sales andselling out of your mind.
Networking is a long game, justlike your business is, so go
(13:08):
into it with the attitude ofbuilding lovely relationships
that you enjoy, and if you dothat, it means you'll stick with
it more long term.
And we are always learning, andgoing to networking events is a
wonderful way to increase yourknowledge of business in general
, while also learning moredeeply about other industries
(13:29):
that you don't know anythingabout, and how they approach
sales, how they do theirmarketing, what challenges they
face and the growthopportunities that all these
activities provide, becausegetting insights into other
industries can give you anotherway of thinking about your own
and give you ideas for doingthings differently in your own
(13:50):
business that will benefit youlong term.
You don't get that if you'renot exposed to this, so it's a
great way of getting exposure tothings that are outside of your
wheelhouse, and it's great tostep outside, isn't it?
Learning also keeps it reallyinteresting, and you'll likely
learn something very valuablefrom every single networking
(14:13):
event that you attend.
Keep your mind and your earsopen and make the most of all
that wonderful opportunity thatsurrounds you.
Practice using that growthmindset that I often talk about,
because, when you least expectit, you will have a random
conversation and it will giveyou new ideas, lead to new
(14:34):
experiences, open new doors thatweren't available to you before
.
So it's really important to getout of your wheelhouse, get out
of your comfort zone and justjump into this and remember to
give.
Remember that all relationshipsare a two-way street.
(14:54):
No one likes a taker.
You need to give more than youtake and, just like we use
value-based marketing in ourbusinesses, think of this as
value-first networking,value-based networking.
This is where you flip thescript and you offer help before
you ever think of asking foranything.
(15:17):
Imagine the power of going intoa conversation and you think to
yourself 'How can I help thisperson?
' Rather than thinking 'What canI get out of this?
'Because networking is about
building genuine connectionswhere giving comes before
receiving, and this approach isbeautiful.
(15:39):
It not only feels more natural,but it usually leads to
stronger and more meaningfulrelationships in the long run.
And even if you're not asadvanced in your business as
someone else is in the group,you might feel like you don't
have anything to contribute, butyou do.
You will still have knowledgeand insights and experience that
(16:02):
they don't have, so share it.
They might be in a differentindustry to you.
They may not have experiencedwhat you have in your business,
so even though you mightperceive that they're further
ahead than you, they can stilllearn from you too.
It's a two-way street and thisprocess is a beautiful
supportive environment whereeveryone feels equal and valued,
(16:26):
and it can also help you tobecome known as a thought leader
on certain topics within yourindustry, and what you'll find
is you'll have people coming upto you for advice or they'll be
talking to someone else and say,oh, go and talk to Mary about
that, because she knows allabout that, and eventually
(16:47):
you'll have people referringclients to you as well, in a
beautiful, organic way where youhaven't made anyone feel icky
or uncomfortable, you haven'tdone a sales pitch.
It's just people getting toknow you and know your knowledge
and value on different topics,and then they feel comfortable
(17:08):
talking about you to otherpeople, and that is the highest
form of compliment you canreceive and is also going to
give you really valuable leadsand valuable referrals that are
more likely to justautomatically say yes to you
than if you had done traditionalmarketing outreach because it's
(17:32):
that lovely, organic, realconnection.
Just remember that you get whenyou give, but you've got to be
genuine in the giving.
It's really worthwhile, andwhen you do start to give of
your time, your knowledge andyour skills, it opens up the
door to work with otherbusinesses and get really
(17:54):
creative on collaboratingtogether, and this can be so
much fun.
It gets the creative juicesflowing, it exposes you to an
entirely new audience who didn'tknow about you before, and it
gives the opportunity to createa new offering or a new product
suite or to collaborate on othernew ideas that you would not
(18:15):
have even thought of before.
So I would say that's a reallymassive win for everyone
involved.
So spending time with differentpeople is going to present you
with new ways of thinking andthat will challenge you.
It will spark your creativityor get your curious mind working
(18:35):
, it will open up yourperceptions and it will give you
more ability to innovate and tocreate within your business and
it's also going to enrich anddiversify your networking
experience, giving you moreauthentic, valuable, meaningful
exchanges with the women in yourgroup.
(18:58):
Now there are other ways ofnetworking which aren't
generally considered networking,and I call them non-networking.
So think about your hobbies oryour passions outside of your
work or your business.
Maybe you love hiking, maybeyou love painting or you love
yoga.
There are events and groups forthese interests and they can be
(19:21):
gold mines for networking,because when you meet people in
these relaxed settings, you'realready starting off with
something in common.
You're not walking into a roomthinking, oh my goodness, what
am I going to talk about?
Because you've already got thatcommonality.
So the conversations will flowmore easily and the connection
(19:43):
is more authentic because it'snot forced and it's not purely
business focused.
You're not trying to think, oh,I hope I'm not being too salesy
or I hope I'm keeping sales outof the conversation.
How do I get people to know me?
You can just talk naturally andthe conversation will flow.
And here's the thing aboutnon-networking it doesn't feel
(20:06):
like networking.
It feels like you're makingfriends, and isn't that what the
best business relationshipsoften are?
They become friendships foundedon mutual interests and respect
, and these kind of connectionscan be far more powerful than
any other connection you'remaking your business.
(20:28):
Another great strategy fornetworking is online networking
going into different onlinecommunities like social media
groups and forums and onlineworkshops that are related to
your interests, like yoga orhiking or the industry that your
business is in, and they can befantastic places to network.
(20:49):
And engaging in these onlinespaces it opens up the world
even more.
You can connect with peoplefrom every part of the globe,
people you would never normallyhave the chance to meet
otherwise.
And because these interactionsoften start with discussions or
sharing knowledge or someone'sasked a question that you know
(21:12):
the answer to, or they're justthat interest base, they lay a
really great foundation forbuilding a professional
relationship too.
Another thing to think about inyour networking is local
community events.
It's so good to get involved inyour community, to do things
(21:33):
with and for the people who livearound you and to do business
with businesses in your localcommunity.
Community is powerful, sogetting involved in your
community projects or attendinglocal meetups, it can be
unexpectedly rewarding.
You're not just building yournetwork, it's because you can be
(21:57):
contributing to your communitythat makes it feel good on so
many levels.
Plus, you never know who youmight meet.
You could meet your next bigclient, you could meet your
future business partner.
They could be right there inyour own neighbourhood.
Now we've talked about all thewarm and fuzzy elements of
(22:17):
modern networking, so I'm goingto balance that out with what
often makes people feel icky thefollow-up.
When you meet someone at anevent or you connect on LinkedIn
or you've had a great chatabout your business or about
your hobbies, what comes next?
This is where the magic happens.
It happens in that ickyfollow-up.
(22:39):
So it's about making thefollow-up not icky.
It's not just about sending anice note or a text saying oh
nice to meet you, because that'sreally boring and doesn't lead
into the connection that you'vejust made.
Think about the connectionyou've made.
What was it about that personthat you really connected with?
(23:03):
What about your conversationlit you up or got you curious or
made you think about adifferent possibility or
opportunity that you hadn'tthought of before?
What about that person wasamazing?
So think about that and weavethat into your follow-up.
(23:23):
It's about nurturing thatinitial connection and growing
it into a meaningfulrelationship.
Think of it like planting aseed.
You've got to water it to helpit grow, and the first step in
following up is your timing.
You don't want to wait weeksand let that initial spark fade
(23:43):
out, and then they'll think, oh,who is this person that's just
saying, oh, nice to meet you?
Oh, I don't even remember them.
Because quite often people meetso many people, particularly at
these events, that if you don'tget in touch with them or work
on that connection straight away, you're lost from their mind.
You might have been thinking Oh, yes, I've got to get back in
(24:06):
touch.
What do I say?
What do I do?
And in doing so, you'veactually broken that connection.
So, after you've first met,make it a point of reaching out
to them within the first day ortwo after meeting them, and this
shows that you're interestedand you're proactive.
But you're not pushy.
(24:27):
You haven't got in the car andsent them a text straight away.
And oh, here's my business cardon my website.
It's not about that.
Your message should be personal.
Continue that beautifulconnection you just had and
build on that.
So talk about something that lityou up in the conversation.
Remind them of that.
(24:48):
Talk about how you'd love tochat further about that, or, if
they're local to you, how youcan possibly meet up in person
again, are they going to thenext networking event, things
like that.
Keep it real.
That's basically all you needto do.
Keep it real.
Think of it like building afriendship.
Now, how you follow up it canvary.
(25:11):
If it's purely a professionalconnection, you can send them a
LinkedIn message or an email.
But if it was more casual,maybe send them a text, give
them a phone call, send them aDM on social media, whatever you
feel is going to fit the bestwith the type of connection
you've made.
Do that.
(25:32):
Don't have a set hard and fastapproach like oh I have met this
person at this networking event, I must send this email,
because that's robotic andboring and impersonal and
they'll disconnect from youstraight away.
Keep it personal, keep itcomfortable.
Keep it feeling natural andbeautiful for both of you.
(25:53):
Now I want to talk more aboutthe content of your follow-up.
Remember, this is not aboutsales.
You're not selling here.
You're trying to build arelationship and you want to
keep sales out of it.
So think about how you can addvalue to this person.
(26:13):
For example, just say you'veconnected at a yoga event or a
yoga retreat, and so it's moreof a personal connection level.
What you can do is think aboutI read this really great article
on a new yoga practice.
Maybe Jenny would love that Imight just enter that and see if
(26:35):
she'd like it.
You're giving her somethingthat she's interested in that
could potentially be useful andkeeps the conversation going.
You're giving, you're nottaking, and doing your follow-up
in this way can really be thestart of a great relationship.
You've got to remember it'sabout giving, not just taking.
(26:56):
Even though you may haveconnected on a personal level,
it can translate into aprofessional relationship too,
particularly if they have abusiness.
And even if they don't,everyone knows someone who's
going to want what you have, sothey can refer people to you and
(27:17):
that's how it crosses over intothe professional realm without
it being all businessy.
Does that make sense?
And one thing to consider toois consistency is crucial.
One follow-up isn't enough tobuild a really strong connection
.
You've got to keep thatconversation going, check in now
(27:39):
and then share things, beresponsive when they reach out
back to you.
It's about building that trustand showing you're really
interested in that person in along-term relationship, not just
a one-off chat.
Remember the key word there wasperson.
You're interested in the personand, lastly, you've got to be
(27:59):
patient.
Not every follow-up is going toturn into an opportunity.
Not every follow-up is going toturn into a relationship.
Some people won't respond.
Some people will be overwhelmedor they'll think, oh yeah, I
thought I connected with thatperson, but I really didn't.
So they're not going to respondto you and that's okay, because
you're approaching this asbuilding a relationship.
(28:22):
You're coming from a kind,genuine, supportive, heartfelt
way.
So you're looking atcultivating a relationship and
if they don't want that, that'stheir prerogative, isn't it?
And you've got to be okay withthat.
So be patient.
Follow-up (28:39):
If it works out, fantastic.
If it doesn't, that's okay.
There will be other people andother relationships.
The follow-up is where it allbegins.
So just take the time, do itright and you'll really start to
watch your network of businesswomen around you blossom and
grow.
(29:00):
Now, when we're talking aboutnetworking, it's pretty
impossible not to touch onpersonal branding, because they
go hand in hand, like yourmorning coffee and sunshine.
Your personal brand isessentially your story and it's
how you present yourself to theworld offline, online and in
(29:21):
person.
So let's chat about how yourpersonal brand is super, super,
super important when you're outthere networking, because it's
like your business' personality.
It is what makes you.
You Think about this have youever been to someone's website
or their social media and thenyou've met them in person and
(29:44):
you've thought, oh, is that eventhe same person?
If you have that feeling, it'sbecause that person is not being
themselves in one of thoseareas.
They're either not beingthemselves in their business, in
the online realm, or they'renot being themselves in person,
and that's a really key thing tothink about.
(30:07):
Think about how you presentyourself online and how you
present yourself in person.
Are they the same?
Do they match?
Do they make sense?
Is someone going to meet you inperson and say, oh hey, I saw
you on your social media andit's so nice to meet you in
person and really connect withyou because you're the same
person?
Or are they going to say, oh,you're totally different.
(30:31):
Oh, I didn't connect the dots.
You don't want that to happen.
You need to be real.
So every conversation you have,every email you send, every
social media post you do needsto be authentic and it's really
a chance to show you and what isunique about you and your
business, and it's not justabout what you do but how you do
(30:55):
it and also your why.
And consistency is your bestfriend here, whether it is your
social media, your networkingevent or sending those emails.
Keep your messaging, keep yourstyle, keep everything
consistent, because it helpspeople to remember who you are.
It's like leaving littlebreadcrumbs that are going to
(31:16):
lead them right back to you andeventually right back to your
business.
And being real is what counts.
Your personal brand shouldtotally reflect the real you,
because people can spot a fake amile away and, let's be honest,
being yourself is way easierthan trying to be someone else.
So when you're genuine, youbuild trust, and trust is
(31:41):
everything in business.
Now I'll make the distinctionhere between being shy and being
introverted and being real.
Quite often for introverts orpeople who are shy, they'll walk
into a room and they don't feelthemselves so initially they're
not presenting as themselves.
That doesn't mean they're beingdisingenuine.
(32:03):
It just means they're findingtheir way to feel comfortable in
that space, and it can takethem some time.
So if you do meet someone whois different from their socials
or their website or their emailsor how you have perceived them,
if you've seen them beforehand,give them a chance, give them
(32:26):
some space, make them feelwelcome, make them feel
comfortable, and then you aremore likely to see the real them
, because, remember, it is atwo-way street.
You've got to give, you've gotto be supportive of the other
person, put yourself in theirshoes.
Remember what it felt like foryou to walk into a room where
(32:49):
you didn't know anyone for thevery first time, and how awkward
and uncomfortable and unlikeyou you most likely felt.
Just remember that when you'remeeting someone because they are
most likely feeling thatthemselves, and by coming at it
from this perspective, you areadding on to that beautiful
supportive environment that youwant to be in.
(33:11):
You want to create thatenvironment for the other people
around you too.
Another thing to being real,being true, being yourself, is
storytelling.
Tell your story.
People love stories.
They actually do want to knowabout you.
They want to know your journey,your ups and downs and the
(33:32):
dreams that drive you.
Stories are what stick inpeople's minds way more than
facts.
So, sharing your story, it'sreally like you're inviting
people into your world and theylike that.
And that is an easy way toconnect with people, because
you're not selling anything.
(33:52):
You're just inviting them intoyour world and you're sharing.
So, when you share, that'swhere you're opening doors.
Now, this isn't selling, but youneed to have an elevator pitch.
Don't think of your elevatorpitch as a sales tool, which it
is, but you need to have anelevator pitch.
(34:15):
And if you don't create one andall it is is a really quick,
catchy summary of who you areand what your business is all
about, make it snappy, make itshine.
Most importantly, make it aboutyou.
Make it you authentic to you,because what you can do is use
this elevator pitch as youricebreaker.
(34:37):
You walk into that room you'venever been into before, with
people you've never seen before.
You don't know what to say.
This gives you the words to say.
It can take some stress awayfrom you.
It can make it a little biteasier.
So do that.
Create your elevator pitch andpractice it so that when it
comes out of your mouth, itfeels like you talking to a
(34:59):
friend, it feels natural, it'snot forced, you're not thinking,
oh, what were those words I wasmeant to say, because it's just
flowing.
It needs to flow, it needs tobe real and it needs to be
comfortable.
You have to be comfortablesaying it.
So practice it.
Get in front of the mirror andsay it to yourself over and over
and over.
You'll need to read it at first, most likely.
So do that, just keeppracticing it.
(35:21):
Get it so that it's on the tipof your tongue and you can just
spit that out wherever, wheneveryou are.
And a good rule of thumb is tothink about it Like, is this
going to make sense to someonewho knows nothing about me,
nothing about what I do, nothingabout business?
(35:42):
If I say this to someone at acocktail party, will this make
sense, and can we connect overit?
That's a really good test, areally good rule of thumb for
creating your elevator pitch.
And, lastly, give it time.
Building your personal brand isagain like growing that garden
(36:03):
it doesn't happen overnight.
You've got to nurture it,you've got to water it, you've
got to pay it some beautifulattention.
So stay true to yourself.
Keep sharing your story andyour brand will grow, just like
your business does.
So, to wrap it up, yourpersonal brand is a huge part of
(36:23):
networking.
Be consistent, be real, shareyour story, have a killer
elevator pitch, be helpful andgive it time and, trust me,
it'll make your networking notjust more successful but a whole
lot more fun and easy, too.
As we finish up this episode, Iwant to encourage every single
woman listening, especially theshy and the introverted among us
(36:47):
.
I want to encourage and, infact, challenge you to embrace
the world of networking.
Modern female networking is afar cry from the old, rigid
perceptions that you may have.
It is about authenticconnections, shared experiences
and mutual support and respect.
(37:08):
It's networking that doesn'tjust grow your business, it's
networking that enriches yourlife.
Now I really hope this episodehas opened your eyes to the
enjoyable and rewarding side ofnetworking.
Remember, it's about findingwhat works for you and making
genuine connections thatresonate with you personally and
(37:32):
professionally.
So go ahead, step out of yourcomfort zone, discover the
incredible opportunities thatawait you in the world of
networking.
Because you've got this.
Now, you won't want to missnext week on the podcast.
It's part four of our seriesabout elevating your business,
about strategies for women inbusiness, and it's all about
(37:56):
innovating and adapting so thatyou can stay ahead even when the
world changes around you.
So stay brilliant, staybeautiful, and I'll see you next
week.
Thanks for being here.
Thanks so much for listening.
I'd love to know your biggesttakeaway from today's episode.
(38:17):
So leave me a comment below orsend a DM on Instagram.
If you enjoyed this episode,hit the subscribe button
wherever you listen to theBrilliant Business, Beautiful
Life podcast, and feel free toshare it with someone else
who'll love it too.
I look forward to seeing youfor the next episode and
remember the time is now foryour Brilliant Business and the
(38:38):
beautiful life you adore.
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