When I first stepped into the post-college world, the word “networking” made me cringe. It felt like schmoozing without substance, as if I was just pretending to have skills and hoping someone would buy it. I thought networking was about “making the sale” or getting something out of people. Thankfully, I soon realized that’s not what it’s about at all.
Flash back to September 2015—I was turning 25, got dumped, and reeling from a major client cutting my work in half. Bills were piling up, invoices were getting paid very late, and I had no clear path forward. My “brand” was Monzpro (Remember that!), which was basically my code for “I have no idea what I’m doing and where I’m going.” But around that time, I joined a networking organization that pretty much saved my career.
Within six months, things started to change. I was meeting new people, getting exciting projects, and finally set up Monzo Media Productions as an official LLC. For the next four years, I became a bit of a networking “snob”—focused on building relationships, connecting others with the right people, and adding value wherever I could. Even as an introvert, I found my way in the networking world, and it worked.
Then came 2020. The lockdowns hit, and I lost my momentum. I went from attending events and making weekly calls to barely connecting with people a few times a month. My drive to help others faded, and honestly, I was in survival mode but i didnt really know how to approach this new world. Logically it made sense to just keep doing what I do but emotionally I was just drained. When in-person events came back around 2022ish, I tried to jump back in, but it wasn’t the same. My business had shifted to working with independent schools—a small, specialized niche—and I often felt out of place. Not that i didnt enjoy talking about business but i wasn’t thrilled with speaking with the 10th financial advisor that week (no hate I promise). I love talking about business, marketing, and other weird challenges we all go through.
I still had my networking etiquette, but I needed a new approach. My introverted self wasn’t about to drain all my energy on a single networking event only to go home and crash. I had to make it sustainable. It wasn’t a lack of resolve or want.
Here’s what I did:
I started prioritizing my energy calendar. I blocked off specific times for networking calls that wouldn’t drain me and left enough energy for the rest of my day. I set up different calendars for different types of calls—sales calls, networking calls, team meetings (shoutout to Motion Ai for making this so easy). By spring 2024, I found my rhythm again. My networking was finally working for me, instead of wearing me out (and virtual networking has helped a ton too for more one on one interactions).
Here are a few takeaways:
- Your energy isn’t about effort; it’s about your environment.
- Networking etiquette matters: no selling, be open to intros, respect boundaries, and ask questions.
- Stick with one group long enough to build real connections. Networking is a marathon, not a sprint.
- Remember, networking isn’t about selling. It’s a marketing move, not a sales one.
- Find your own rhythm—it might take time, but once you hit it, things will start to click.
You still need to network. You still need to build connections. You need to plant the seeds.
