Networking for Entrepreneurs: Creating Value

If you're hoping to network with someone you don't know, start by helping them. Here's a list of actions you can take to provide value to a new contact: -Listen to a podcast they were interviewed on and reference the episode. -Read their article or other written resource and mention your takeaways. -Watch videos of their interviews or speaking engagements. -Subscribe to their newsletter, podcast, or social profiles. -Add thoughtful comments on their LinkedIn posts or elsewhere on social. -Share their social media content and include your commentary. -Leave a genuine review or rating on their course, podcast, services page, etc. -Attend their company's next in-person or online event, especially if it's free. -Interview them to provide additional exposure to their ideas and accomplishments that could benefit other readers, viewers, or listeners. -Curate resources and opportunities for them based on their actual interests. The goal is to demonstrate a genuine interest in them by going beyond asking for something or using the same generic pleasantries everyone else does.

Effective networking isn't just about knowing people. It's about building meaningful connections and providing value. It's a strategic advantage. Think about it: Networking isn’t about collecting contacts; it’s about planting seeds that grow into partnerships. Imagine this: You meet someone at an event. You exchange business cards, but that’s just the beginning. Real networking starts when you follow up, offer help, and stay in touch. Building meaningful connections means showing genuine interest in others. Ask about their projects, offer your expertise, and be reliable. When you provide value, people remember you. They want to collaborate and support you in return. Effective networking is about quality, not quantity. Focus on a few key relationships and nurture them. This leads to trust, and trust is the foundation of any strong partnership. Providing value can be as simple as sharing useful information, making introductions, or offering your skills. It's about giving before you receive. When you build real connections, opportunities naturally come your way. People are more likely to refer you, collaborate with you, and support your endeavors. Networking is a long-term investment in your career. It’s not about instant gratification but about growing a network that will benefit you and others over time. Remember, it’s not about who you know. It’s about who knows you and values what you bring to the table. Plant those seeds, nurture them, and watch your network grow into a strong, supportive community.

Startups and nonprofits are struggling with the same problem: Bad networking. It’s not: → A “sales problem” for startups → A “fundraising problem” for nonprofits → That people don’t care about your mission or product It is: → Pitch-slapping everyone you meet (asking too soon) → Treating relationships as transactions → Focusing on short-term wins instead of long-term trust Simply put: → People buy from people they trust. → Donors give to missions they believe in. → And no one likes being treated like a wallet on legs. So, how do you fix this? You do what great leaders in both spaces already know: → Build genuine relationships before asking for anything → Share your story without a hard sell → Invest in giving value first It’s not: → Spamming cold DMs with your pitch deck or donation link → Assuming your product or cause “sells itself” → Asking before earning trust It is: → Fostering real, human connections → Learning what others value before making your ask → Building a reputation as someone worth knowing Remember this holiday season: →Startups and nonprofits both thrive on trust. → Your “success” depends on relationships, not just revenue or donations. → And if you don’t fix this, you’ll always be chasing, never growing. Start today: Build a connection without asking for anything in return. Trust takes time, but when you get it right, everyone wins. With purpose and impact, Mario

The best advice I ever received about networking? It’s not about the coffee. Nor is it about the: → Basketball game → Golf outing → Goat cheese omelet at breakfast → Wagyu steak over dinner Networking is about the other person. Think about it: The coffee, the call, the lunch—that’s just a pretext. The real value is the chance to: → Listen → Learn → Offer help → Genuinely connect Somewhere along the way, networking got reduced to a task. → Fill a 30-minute slot before work → An entry to fill out the calendar The drink became the headline when it was never the story. Because networking isn’t about caffeine or cocktails. Real networking happens when you slow down long enough to hear someone else’s story—without rushing to pitch your own. It’s when your curiosity pervades the conversation, not your strategy to figure out what’s in it for you. Here’s the mindset shift that changed everything for me: → Stop asking, “What can I get?” → Start asking, “How can I help?” That’s when the magic happens. You remember the person, not the latte. You build trust, not just a contact list. You become memorable—for the right reasons. Some of my best opportunities began over coffee. Not because of what was in the cup, but because of what came out of the connection: → A fresh perspective that reframed a deal → A long-term partnership with a key opinion leader → Or just an engaging discussion about our personal lives Often, a meeting resulted in nothing that was immediately actionable. And that’s fine. Sometimes, that new connection resurfaced literally a decade later. “Hey Marc, it’s been a while, but I thought of you because I want to talk about a deal I'm working on.” That’s magic. People aren’t vending machines. You don’t swipe a card and expect opportunity to drop out. So next time you ask someone for coffee, know what you’re really asking: “Can I have a moment of your time—human to human?” That’s real networking. It’s not about the coffee. It never was. My takeaways? → Focus on the person, not the drink → Listen way more than talk → End the meeting by asking “how can I help you?” Pic: Networking in Florence, Italy. ______________________ I'm Marc Cabrera, a former investment banker. Wall Street taught me the numbers; life taught me what really counts.

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

Networking isn't transactional It's deeply human. 𝟯 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗜 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸: 1️⃣𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙮: A former founder & CEO reached out to share the sad news of a colleague’s passing. He thought of me specifically, knowing our mutual connection. It felt meaningful, someone cared enough to inform and connect. This led me to reconnect with others, sharing stories and memories, amplifying the empathy. ⭐Human connection matters, especially as AI becomes more prevalent.   2️⃣𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙀𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨: A new CEO network connection started a company aligned with a niche topic. Knowing how intimidating starting to do video on social media can be, I shared authentic examples of a successful influencer doing casual, low-key videos on their topic. It sparked inspiration. ⭐Sometimes the best encouragement is simply showing what's possible with real examples. I met this person at an event I was doing, to help another connection. 3️⃣𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙇𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙛𝙨: I sent an inspiring article about a European company's success to a few European CEOs who often doubt their potential without being US-based. Success stories that resonate directly address self-limiting beliefs. I offered to make an introduction to the CEO of the company the article was about. ⭐The article gives another point of validation and helps to make an introduction 'more' relevant to at least one of the parties. ✔Tip on making introductions https://lnkd.in/gR9Edfug 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄, 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹. I hope this gives you real life examples of what it means to build and cultivate a high impact network as part of your overall value as an executive and gives you ideas and inspiration.    𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠?