Be an Idea Partner4 min read
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In the early days of my business in the late ‘80s (making me a certified dinosaur) I know I had to make new connections with business owners through networking and outreach.
It was a matter of survival. So, I read a lot of books on the topic and over a period of time got very good at it. And all those connections I made provided a foundation that led to a lot of new clients.
The Terror of Making Connections
Why is it so terrifying to reach out to other business owners to have conversations with them?
All of the following were true for me to one degree or another:
Fear of rejection: It’s common to feel hesitant about reaching out to someone because of the possibility of rejection. I worried that they wouldn’t be interested in talking to me or that they’d ignore my message.
Fear of being judged: I worried about what the other person would think of me and my business. This fear of being judged was especially strong as I was often reaching out to someone who was more established or successful than I was.
Lack of confidence: As I didn’t feel very confident in my abilities and my business, I felt hesitant to reach out to others for fear of being exposed as inadequate or unprepared.
Uncertainty about what to say: It was challenging to know how to start a conversation or what to say when I reached out to someone. This uncertainty made the prospect of reaching out seem even more daunting.
Fear of wasting their time: I was concerned that I was imposing on someone or wasting their time if I reached out to them. This fear was especially strong when I didn’t know the person well or if I was reaching out to someone who was busy or important.
So, yeah, it was terrifying! But I kept at it.
Those books kept telling me that many business owners are open to networking and collaboration (not to mention, engaging my services), and the benefits of reaching out can be significant.
By approaching the situation with a positive attitude and clear communication, I ultimately found that it wasn’t as terrifying as I initially thought.
But knowing this may not be enough. I know it can feel hard and it’s easy to avoid reaching out and making connections.
The Birth of Idea Partners
I’ve been thinking about this for a long time (for years, actually) and working on coming up with ideas that would facilitate connections.
Over the years, I’ve tried a lot of things with my clients and group participants.
But finally, it hit me: Just get people together on Zoom so they can talk with each other. All I needed to do was structure the interactions to make each conversation valuable.
What I came up with was surprisingly simple, but at the same time very powerful.
I dubbed these virtual networking sessions “Idea Partners” and in these sessions, people get together via Zoom to meet each other, have conversations, and explore new possibilities.
Here are some of the advantages of the Idea Partners sessions.
Networking: Idea Partners sessions are designed to help Independent Professionals build connections and expand their network with like-minded individuals. These connections can lead to new ideas, collaborations, and opportunities.
Idea generation: By bringing together people from different backgrounds and industries, the sessions can stimulate creativity and generate new ideas. The collaborative environment will help individuals explore new perspectives and approaches to growing their businesses.
Learning opportunities: Participants learn from each other’s experiences, skills, and expertise. They’ll share best practices, strategies, and insights that can help them grow.
Support and encouragement: Idea Partners sessions provide a supportive and encouraging environment where individuals share their challenges and where your peers actually listen to and hear you.
Flexibility: With virtual sessions, participants can join from anywhere in the world, making it easier to connect with people who have shared interests and goals.
Overall, Idea Partners sessions are a valuable way for individuals to connect, learn, and grow both professionally and personally.
Attend the first Idea Partners gathering
The first live Idea Partners session is on Friday, May 12.
When: 12 Noon PT, 1MT, 2CT, 3ET, 8UK, 9EU (90 minutes)
Via: Zoom video conferencing
Click here to reserve your space.
If you’re sick of being terrified of connecting, join us in the open, collaborative, and non-judgmental space of Idea Partners and make some new and valuable connections.
See you on Friday.
Please note that space is limited to 100 participants. I only ask that you make a reservation if you know you can attend for sure.
Cheers, Robert
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