UTSKRIFT 🔗
Holly Jean Jackson: Let's talk about the networking trap. You heard me, the networking trap. Here's the thing: more is not always better. And one size certainly does not fit all. Here is the secret. The secret engine of relationship business growth or relational business growth is about consistency over intensity. Okay. We tend to treat our networking like a campaign, right? We reach out to as many people as possible, attend more events, post more, and follow up more. What's the problem with that? Well, if we have these intense bursts of activity, they rarely create actual trust. And trust is what we really need foundationally. To create intentional, aligned, and meaningful business relationships and beyond. Relationships compound through consistency and showing up, not through volume. Here's the thing, I want you to really focus on if you had your 100 perfect fans or your 100 or maybe just 20 perfect strategic partners, what would that look like? Who would that be? How would you know you met that person? If you don't have that clarity, you're likely shooting a spaghetti at a wall, and you are not intentionally reaching out to the correct aligned networking communities, building the connect correct networking spaces in your own way on your own platforms. And when you do that, all you do is create chaos and noise. Instead of intentional aligned relationship building relationship-driven business connections, which is ultimately what we need, especially in this day of AI interaction and all these workflow things replacing humanity. We need relationship to build trust and community. I want you to think in touch points, not transactions. People can feel. When you are just doing something from a transactional perspective, they can sense that. They're smart. They can feel the energy of that. Think about a thoughtful comment or a quick check-in, like an audio note you could send to somebody. Think about sharing somebody's work, not because of what it what you get from it, but because you care about them being successful. Or make an introduction that could build that relationship or help that person achieve their specific goals, their specific legacy, without thinking about what it will do for you. These small interactions, what they do is they create a familiarity and a trust without demanding anything in return. And that's where the magic of true relationship comes from: is that foundation of trust. That foundation of being seen and heard and known, that's the launch point for magical, out of this world, miraculous collaborations. And that's what we see our clients do time and time again when they work with us, understanding how to build systems and processes and intentional campaigns with that Northern Star to build deep connected networks and communities. The goal isn't to constantly work your network at all. No. It's to stay meaningfully connected and adding meaningful value in a very specific and personal way, not just curated, but personal. This builds what we like to call the trust compounding effect. So think about you have an interaction that might be forgettable. 20 genuine interactions over time are unforgettable. That changes the way that person sees you. I know that when my family was having challenges with our net my nephew and with my brother in the hospital, my trusted collaboration partners and brothers and sisters in business showed up with prayer, with financial contributions, with meaningful calls just to support me emotionally. While I was supporting my family with genuine concern that connected us in a deeper way that makes me emotional, even speaking about right now, trying not to get teary. That's the trust compound effect I want you to build intentionally for your business and your community. Consistency signals reliability, attention, and genuine interest. It means you are top of mind, you are seen, you are known, you are heard. And that's ultimately what we all want, right? Over time, you're no longer just a name in somebody's inbox. You're somebody they know, they remember, and most importantly, they trust because they feel a genuine connection with you. So here's the deal: replace the networking sprint with a networking relationship rhythm. What would that look like, sound like, and feel like? Visualize that. That's the system we want to build. Those are the connections we want more of. I want that in my inbox, that on my calendar, that in my phone, my messages, in my audio notes, and my voicemails, and in my in-person, meaningful, connected time. That's what I want. Instead of disappearing for months and then suddenly asking, can we connect? Create building a sustainable relationship rhythm. And identify the people who matter the most, those inner circle people, and find consistent ways to stay connected with them. Sending them gratitude notes. Asking them how you can help them hit their next goal. Asking them what some wins are so you can celebrate their small and big wins and stay constantly connected. Small intentional acts that are done consistently beat occasional bursts of effort. I don't know about you, but for me, what creates the most sacred container for my nervous system where I feel truly safe and secure is somebody who's consistent. It's as simple as that. The people that are up and down and hot and cold, I don't trust that. That's exhausting. And my my energy feels a need to protect myself from those hot and cold up and down relationships. And today more than ever, with the craziness and the chaos in our world, we are hearing more people talk about their nervous systems, more people talking about feeling safe, feeling seen, feeling heard, and how to create that. Let's create that emotional safety for the people in our lives and business and beyond. Let relationships create the opportunities in ways that are beyond your wildest imagination. That's why we call our calls for connection collaboration magic calls. People are so freaking brilliant. If we give them the space and we're curious and we share what our superpower is and we ask what their is theirs is, that's where you create incredible partnerships, incredible collaborations. and incredible relationships that are really truly founded on a foundation that will stick and is sustainable for the long run. The strongest referrals, partners, collaborations, and client opportunities often emerge naturally from relationships that have been nurtured over time. We can set intentions for a call, but you can't rush the process. You have to let it simmer. Let them soak up the energy. See if there's the right chemistry. If the alignment's there, Give the time to let it sit, and I guarantee magic will happen. You don't have to force every connection towards a business outcome. Some connections are there to support you spiritually or personally, or they're your soul sister or soul brother. Be open to that. Don't be rigid. Be flexible. Build the relationship first and then let the opportunity, whatever that is, become a byproduct. All right, until our next conversation, I want you to remember this. You don't need to be everywhere, and you certainly don't need to talk to everyone because they're not all your people. You just need to keep showing up for the relationships that matter. And that means you need to sit with to the point where you can visualize and feel and know when you have found your people. That is how you build your tribe and your vibe. I love to hear your comments on this. And if you're stuck with this, we would love to support you so that you can be the change maker to attract the best relationships for what you need in this season of life.