I wrote Networking for Healers when I realized my healer-authors weren’t truly taking advantage of making the connections they needed to build their businesses. They kinda sucked at it, actually. I wanted to help.
Networking is how I turned a business into an empire. I get excited about this.
My community of writers, authors, and healers is a special breed of awesome, heart-centered, soul-filled badasses. They’re changing the world with the way they show up, taking responsibility for their awareness, and responding to the events of their lives rather than reacting to them. They’ve committed their lives to the healing journey, understanding it, and trail-blazing the path so they can help others.
Like me, most of them, however, didn’t go to business school, never had the training in networking, business development, or strategy, and aren’t spending time developing relationships with potential ideal clients or perfect business partners.
“I rely on word-of-mouth referrals,” they said, while they also complained, “I need more clients.”
I understand this completely because, in my years as a private practice physical therapist, I did the same thing. Word-of-mouth referrals were the bomb! I had a six-figure practice. And I did have a dream to grow it, with absolutely no idea how I’d clone myself.
Later, I realized that to grow beyond my current level, I’d have to have a bigger vision. I didn’t want to build that vision because the passion factor was lacking. The whole idea seemed like a lot more work than I wanted to put in and a recipe for burnout.
When Brave Healer Productions was founded, I built my writing community (through both in-person classes and online writing communities), created my programs for writers and entrepreneurs, and started publishing with a bigger vision.
At that point, I knew I had to network if the business was going to succeed.
I had one problem. I hated networking.
As a physical therapist I was used to showing up at doctor’s offices hoping to get 60 seconds with the practice owner, being told, “Bring bagels back next week, and we’ll let you talk to the doctor.”
Ick.
What I learned about networking (and tried to practice) felt completely unaligned. I sat with dread at events, hoping someone would take my business card, and then prayed afterward.
I wonder if they’ll call. I hope they call!
Enter Donnie Boivin and Success Champion Networking. I’m super happy to give Donnie a plug because, with a couple of free workshops, he completely changed my mindset and my passion for networking.
“What do you think networking is?” He asked us one day. I realized I had no idea.
“It’s a conversation with an outcome.”
Whoa, what?
My vision definitely had business cards in it, and was more complicated.
“Networking is helping build other people’s businesses,” he continued.
Wait a minute, what about my business?
From that moment (and aha) on, everything changed. This wasn’t about me, as much as I wanted to believe that selling my shit was the point. This was about how I could help other people.
I’m good at helping others!
And my writing communities, business communities, author communities, and networking communities blossomed and grew. Because for once, I started making connections and introductions for others, helping them build their businesses, and creating relationships that grew from that giving.
Of course your business is about you and selling your magical offerings. It’s just that if you related that to the definition of networking, that’s where you got it wrong.
The moment you get that you must separate selling and networking, you’ll feel like someone tapped the magic purple glitter-sparkle wand on your head.
I’ll wait a moment. . .
When you prioritize networking, you will:
- Meet more prospective clients
- Meet perfect business partners
- Meet connectors and super-connectors who will make introductions
- Learn a ton
- Be able to practice asking great questions and listening like a rockstar
- Develop know, like, and trust
- Gain new business
- Sell more
- Increase your income
- Grow your business
- Position your business for next-level growth
- Need to hire more team
- Shift your mindset
- Get clarity about who you want to work with
I can go on because it was all this and more for me. And I have a secret. I burned out on networking. I did so much of it that I labeled myself as a super-connector and then, very quickly, dreaded firing up my Zoom.
It was a great problem to have and super-awesome clarity to gain. Networking overload helped me curate the kind of networking I now love to do. I created The Brave Healer Power Hour and the Monday Morning Breakthroughs networking events.
It also helped me more carefully vet the people I give my one-to-one attention, knowledge, and time to.
So, yes, I’m shoulding on you today: You should consider prioritizing networking with people who lift you up, make great intros, and help you build your business. If you’re looking to join an online writing community (we also do in-person sessions), you can join us [here]. It’s life-changing. You should also be one of those people!
Want more? Grab Networking for Healers HERE.
And until then, who in your contacts list would be a non-competitive business partner that serves the same ideal client as you? Start reaching out, collaborating, and connecting, and watch the networking magic happen!
