Your ‘Networking’ May Have Been A Complete Waste Of Time.
The concepts I’m sharing in today’s article is crucial for entrepreneurs of all stages.
But the people who have made it to mid-6 or 7-figures and above have most likely already mastered this concepts.
Which leaves this to be most significant for solopreneurs or those with a small team, as they may be bleeding energy doing this wrong without even realizing.
So this article is written mostly for expert-based businesses who haven’t yet hit 5-figure months, or those unable to do so consistently.
I wrote: “‘Networking’ has become a waste of time.” on my community post the other day.
At first, it may appear like I am bashing networking, calling it useless.
But the truth is, I was simply calling out the regular way of networking; the way most people I does it:
Signing up for most if not all the events.
Going for coffee sessions indiscriminately, with minimal filter, going in without a plan.
Joining business networking or referral organizations.
Participating in ‘power teams’ or being a committee member of organizations.
Organizing or attending events where everyone gets a chance to share about their business.
I’ve done all these things myself.
I’ve gotten results from these things too.
But my business started to take off the moment I STOPPED doing these activities.
The reason is because I’ve learned that all the people I know who are crushing it have adopted a very different attitude towards these kind of activities.
They join events only if they’re one of the speakers.
They place heavy filters on who they meet up physically, going so far as to question the credibility of who’s being introduced before agreeing.
They have all, at some point, decided that business networking referral organizations are huge waste of time.
They participate as committee members of causes only if they feel strongly about the cause, not because they have something to gain.
They value their time too much to go to events where ‘everyone gets to share’.
At the core of it lies an attitude of recognizing their own value, with the understanding that no one will value you unless you first value yourself.
They are cognizant of the fact that time and energy are finite resources, more precious than money, and guard these resources with a level of reverence I never seen among struggling solopreneurs.
And the reason why is this:
Coaches and consultants often believe that more networking equals more clients, but the reality is that they were simply engaged in aimless hustle of countless events and superficial connections that never materialize into anything tangible.
The typical networking approach is a scattergun approach.
In today's article, we'll explore why doing it this leaves you with a stack of business cards but not the high-quality connections you need.
And how I do it in a way that has landed some powerful connections that brings actual results.
‘More’ Is Not Always ‘Better’.
Networking isn't just about meeting people. It's about meeting the right people.
Think about this. How many of those business cards turned into real opportunities? How many conversations led to a partnership or a client?
Most times, the answer is few, if any.
Very likely, you have even encountered some bad eggs that gave loud, empty promises that left a lasting bad taste in your mouth.
That's because the traditional networking approach focuses on quantity over quality.
The assumption that most people who preaches this method, is that the more you network, the more ‘visible’ you are.
And the more visible you are, the higher the chances you will be spotted by people who are looking for your services. Or people who could bring you clients.
This is where most coaches and consultants are fooled.
They are underestimating what’s needed in order for clients to appear.
Finding Clients
You see, at any point in time, only about 3% of the strangers you meet is likely going to be ready to pay for what you’re selling.
And of the 3%, an even smaller percentage of that will be desperate enough to discuss buying from you, someone they don’t know.
Of the desperate people who DO end up having a serious conversation with you, an even smaller percentage of that will end up actually buying.
And of the ones who are desperate enough to discuss, and finally buy, very few of them will actually work well with you.
If you don’t believe me, just think about all the nightmare clients you have worked with in the past.
Was there a pattern or similarity in terms of how they came into your service?
If you are trying to find clients in networking events, you are looking for a fraction, of a fraction, of a fraction, of a fraction of people who will buy.
You are spending 1000 hours just to get one client.
It’s like relying on hitting the jackpot in order to pay rent, then finding pride in the fact that you didn’t give up in order to score that odd ‘1 client per month’ win.
This is how the solopreneur business never grow even after years of effort.
This is self-abuse.
This is madness!
This is a slow death done by thinking small.
This is where dreams go to die.
And all of this happens simply because you are ‘willing to put in the work’.
I want to encourage you to think bigger. Demand more of yourself.
Don’t settle, because you are capable of so much more.
Finding Collaborators
Now we can talk about collaborators or strategic partners.
Straight up, real talk:
Do you truly think powerhouse connections will actually show up in random events made for peers?
That’s a rhetorical question. The answer is no, because they know better than that.
They have a system; something I will be sharing with you in this article real soon. But before that, I want you to put yourself into their shoes.
Inbox is blowing up every day from all the people who are also seeking their attention and ‘collaboration’.
Having so much business on their hands they are more concerned about improving their processes than spending the time to ‘find clients’.
Needing to balance work with family matters, or wanting to just relax after work to engage in activities they are interested in; hobbies, passions, etc.
With all of that, what use do they have for networking events?
(Note: by ‘networking events’, I am referencing easy to join, ‘anyone can participate’ type of events. I am not referencing exclusive high ticket events that incurs high costs for participation)
If they are looking for tools, they would have their teams looking for them.
When they are in need of talents, they will tap into their network of peers to ask for recommendations.
The only reason they would have for joining networking events is if they’re special guests, or just joining ‘for fun’.
The ones mostly filling the events are people who are ‘hungry’ for clients or collaborators. People on the same boat as you do.
Most think that if they network enough, the right clients will come. But if you go in there without a cohesive strategy, you're just spinning your wheels.
You need to be selective.
You need to go to events where your ideal clients are.
You need to talk to people who need what you offer.
This is how you turn networking from a time-consuming chore into a powerful tool for business growth.
So, let's dive deeper into how you can make networking work for you. Let's find out how to make every handshake count.
Where high powered connections are really at.
Birds of a feather flock together. Like attracts like.
If you are anything like me, you have probably joined many different free WhatsApp or Facebook groups with specialized interest, thinking that’s enough.
You may have been diligently promoting your services and sharing your message across these platforms, thinking you’re putting yourself out there.
But high powered connections won’t be found where anyone and everyone can simply enter.
As established earlier, high powered connections have too much attention.
Because of that, they value privacy. They may interact with you in public, but they keep their circles small comparative to their ‘public facing’ side, and heavily curated.
They have strong boundaries, and have long since mastered the skills to keep those boundaries healthy.
Entry into these circles need to be introduced, or earned.
Introduced:
You know someone who knows someone.
That person has a habit of introducing someone useful to their high powered connection.
They like you and trust you enough to do so.
Earned:
You’ve been in the orbit of those high powered connections.
They’ve been observing you for awhile and decided that you’re an interesting character.
They are working on something that requires you have; your skills, expertise, or tools, etc.
Where can you consistently meet people who will introduce others to you?
Where can you consistently ‘be in the orbit’ of those people so that you?
At scale? Without limitations?
What I found to work for me are two things:
High ticket masterminds
Social media.
And if you are just starting out, haven’t been able to break into the 5-figure range yet, option #1 is most likely out of your reach.
So let’s just focus on #2: Social Media.
Just consider what I just told you earlier. You need to be in the orbit of high caliber people, and they need to be observing you for awhile.
How can you do that in a way that doesn’t cost you any money, and that is also easy for you to be visible?
Social media!
And the interesting way the social media algorithm is constructed means that people get served content that is most likely interesting to them.
The algorithm is very good at doing this.
So when they finally have something that requires you, for as long as you
Have been consistent at posting stuff up,
Have been consistent at creating high quality conversations (in public) with others in the platform; and
Have been seen by them
Then you have a high chance of being contacted by them.
The Strategic Networking Playbook That Got Me First My $10K Months
See, the key to solving the networking puzzle being in the right place with the right people.
Everyone you meet should be someone who can either already seeking the benefit from your expertise, or offer you valuable insight.
This isn't a dream scenario; it's entirely possible with a shift in strategy.
Instead of casting a wide net, think of networking as a sniper's aim – precise, deliberate, and highly effective.
You've been told to meet as many people as possible, but that's like sifting through a haystack looking for a needle.
What if you could go straight to a pile of needles instead?
That's what strategic networking is all about.
With all of that being said, here’s the way that really worked for me.
First Off, Stop Wishing For Someone To Rescue You
I’ve spent a long time looking for ‘partners’ to help me market and sell my services.
None of the discussions worked.
I’ve also seen so many coaches, consultants, or other experts spent years constantly berating how marketing isn’t their ‘zone of genius’ so they really shouldn’t do it.
To this day, years after, they’re still struggling and looking for ‘partners’ to help out in their business.
I’ve wrote a long and detailed post about this, so I won’t get into it here. But the gist of it is this: No marketer is going to touch you with a ten-foot pole unless you first prove that your offer can sell.
Because YOU are biased toward you own offer, and you will always think your offer is the best.
But the market may beg to differ. And regardless of what your friends and loved ones tell you…
People vote with their wallets.
No sales means your offer isn’t good. Real talk.
And if your offer is not sellable, whoever marketer that takes on this project is just piling on unnecessary blame on themselves.
Furthermore, you may hope; but hope is not a strategy.
So to solve this problem, you really need to stop hoping that some collaborator will come in to help you market your product or service.
You need to do it yourself until you break that $10k/mo mark.
Building your business is your own sole responsibility.
Instead of seeking collaborators, seek to create clients instead.
Second, Join Curated Forums For Initial Visibility
Once you’ve identified your ideal client profile, it is time to do research.
What type of Facebook groups, Twitter communities, WhatsApp groups, are they likely to join?
But there’s something different in the advice that I am about to give you.
When you join these groups, your objective should NOT be to hunt for clients.
You join these groups to add value to the communities.
In other words, you are just constantly giving, and minimally taking.
Giving by sharing your advice (when people ask for it, so that its not unsolicited advice), connecting, and sharing useful news/resources.
And when you DO take, you are not ‘taking’ in the form of promoting your business.
You are ‘taking’ in the form of being vulnerable, asking high quality questions that sparks high quality conversations, that are also useful for you to apply in your business.
Aside from that, you are also ‘receiving’ when you are having authentic conversations with others in the group, without hidden agendas, just purely connecting.
While you do these things, the ballers (and potential clients) in the group are watching.
Conduct yourself well, and you’ll find that your first 5-figure months can come from just this simple step alone.
And share your resources & recommendations too to grow your list.
Lead magnets and goodwill building event invites are perfect to be shared in the community.
Let people add you as friend on social media or even join your community or list directly.
Which leads into the next point.
Use Social Media for Amplified Visibility
Social media is your stage before the networking event even begins.
In fact, what people do nowadays is that when people get referred someone, the first thing they do is to try and search them up on social media or Google them.
Most of the time, only if what they have on social media looks legit, do they feel its worth their time to seek them out and talk to the expert in question.
So keep posting stuff up.
It's where you can broadcast your expertise and attract those who resonate with your message.
Share insights, engage in discussions, and contribute valuable content that showcases your knowledge.
This builds a foundation of recognition and respect.
For instance, a financial advisor might share tips on investment strategies, a fitness coach could post workout routines, and a marketing consultant might offer analysis on the latest trends.
Each piece of content is a beacon, drawing in those interested in these topics.
Then, consider how your posts are being received.
Are they sparking conversations?
Are you addressing the pain points of your potential clients?
Are your posts starting meaningful conversations?
Use these interactions as a gauge for the interest you're generating, and inform your decision on what you do in your social media.
Follow that up with actively interacting and commenting on other people’s post as well. In recent years social media have been prioritize authentic interactions rather than just content.
It means that comments are the new content.
When I first started being active in Twitter, I had 30 followers.
After 2 weeks of consistent posting, I had 37 followers.
But after I started commenting on other people’s posts, within the next 2 weeks I jumped from 37 to 135.
Create conversations. Build visibility.
Qualify Contacts Before Advancing
As you gain visibility and prove that you know what you’re doing, people will start to reach out.
You will be inundated with offers for collaborations, partnerships, etc.
This is where you become the gatekeeper of your network.
Assess each contact: Do their goals align with yours? Can you provide value to each other?
If not, they remain an acquaintance. If yes, graduate them into a Zoom call.
Don’t give away your time too easily.
The key here is the progressive shifting of ‘circles’. Start with conversations around the comment section. Then DMs. Then Zoom calls.
Think about the last time someone reached out to you.
Did you consider how they fit into your network before agreeing to explore more?
What do you need the most in your business in order to ‘level up’? Where can you find them?
Who can provide these to you?
And what’s the value that you could provide to the relationship?
These considerations are crucial in building a network that works for you.
Host Curated Events And Connect Strategically
Take the reins of your networking efforts by organizing events that you curate personally.
Whether it's a focused webinar, an intimate mastermind group, or even a relaxed social gathering, make sure that the people you invite are those you've pinpointed as key players in your network.
This could look like a tech entrepreneur setting up a roundtable with influential figures in the industry…
…or a health coach planning a retreat designed specifically for clients interested in wellness.
Each event should be crafted with the goal of not just bringing people together but creating meaningful connections that enrich your network.
Additionally, take on the role of a strategic connector within your network.
By thoughtfully introducing people who can benefit from each other's services or expertise, you become more than just a participant in your network—you become a central figure, a leader who adds value.
Picture a graphic designer recommending a trusted printing service to their client or a real estate agent linking a potential homebuyer with a reputable mortgage broker.
These connections not only strengthen individual relationships within your network but also enhance the overall fabric of your professional community.
Every time you bring two contacts together, consider the broader impact.
How will these connections foster a supportive network?
How will they reinforce your position as an industry authority?
These actions are what transform your network from a mere collection of contacts into a dynamic, valuable resource that continually contributes to your growth and positions you as a leader in your field.
Meet in Person Only When Necessary, And If There's a Clear Purpose
Save in-person meetings for when there's a significant benefit to be had.
These meetings should be focused, with a clear agenda and intended outcomes.
An author might meet with a publisher to finalize a book deal, or an entrepreneur might need to do a demonstration for investors to secure funding.
Each in-person meeting is a huge investment of time, so make it count.
Before scheduling a face-to-face, ask yourself if this meeting could be just as effective virtually.
What does an in-person interaction add to this situation?
How will it serve your business goals?
Answering these questions ensures that your time is spent wisely.
Be Clear About Goals at Each Stage
Clarity is your ally at every step of the networking process.
Whether you're interacting on social media or sitting down for a coffee, make sure you understand the purpose of the connection.
Never, ever, indiscriminately give your time away for nothing.
Be as clear as you could be to people you are spending time with.
Articulating your intentions effectively. And ensure there's no room for confusion.
These are the things that worked for me, and habits I observe among highly effective individuals.
From Networking to ‘Net-Winning’
The final headline for this section may seem a bit cheeky but that’s true.
Over the years, in all my attempts at networking, I never really derived any results until I follow in the footsteps of those who are further ahead than me.
This is what got me into collaboration with 7-8 figure leaders of my industry, got me introduced to the world stage, and start playing a bigger game.
By addressing the careless waste of time, you are plugging the leak in your time constraints.
Managing your focus the first step toward achieving your dream of becoming the go-to expert in your niche.
When you apply the principles of strategic networking, you will notice a shift.
You'll spend less time at events that don't serve your goals and more time making connections that matter.
This means you can focus on what you should do most: providing value and growing your business.
Imagine in six months, you've built a network of high-quality contacts. Each one is a potential client or a door opener to new opportunities.
Your social media engagement has doubled because your content resonates with the right audience.
Your sales calls more successful because the people you're talking to are already pre-qualified and ready to work with you.
You're now signing on any number of new clients every month, not because you're working harder, but because you're working smarter.
Your network is a garden you've carefully cultivated, and it's full of the fruits of your labor.
This is what your business looks like when you network with intention.
It's a business where every connection counts, every conversation has potential, and every handshake is a step toward your ultimate goal.
Keep this vision in mind as you apply each step.
Your efforts today are the foundation for the thriving business you're building for tomorrow.
So I implore you…be mindful.
Best,
Felix
