A mentor told me my networking was too transactional and it stung

I was at a small business meetup in Tampa about six months ago, feeling pretty good about handing out my cards. An older guy I respect pulled me aside and said, 'Betty, you're collecting contacts, not building a network. People can tell you just want something from them.' That hit hard. I realized I was treating every conversation like a sales pitch. I changed my approach completely. Now, I go to events with the goal of learning just one person's story or helping them with one small thing, with zero expectation of return. I ask more questions about their challenges instead of talking about mine. It's slower, but the connections are real and actually helpful. Has anyone else had to shift from a 'get' mindset to a 'give' one in their networking?

2 comments

2 Comments

morganm6922d ago

So what was the hardest part of making that switch?

wesley_fox9222d agoMost Upvoted

That shift is huge. It's like the difference between speed dating and making a real friend. The "give" mindset even changes how you remember people. Instead of just a name and a job title, you remember the guy who's stressed about his kid's college apps, or the woman trying to source a specific part. You follow up on that stuff, not just the business card. It stops being networking and starts being just... knowing people.