Chris Brogan has a new book out, called The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth (best title ever)!

In it he basically declares networking as dead. The zombies on the Walking Dead are more alive than networking.

Chris writes:

“Does networking work?” What do you get for an answer? If you hear yes, run away from the person who tells you that. And if you said yes, you'll have to tell me how it has worked for you.”

And here is the thing – he's right. Networking has become meaningless.

And I blame…

The Elevator Pitch (cue the theme to Jaws)

Your elevator pitch, my elevator pitch is killing networking.

Elevator pitches STOP conversation in its track. Why?

Elevator pitches evolved into verbally vomiting a sales pitch in 60-seconds or less. This makes you want to run away!

I've tried the formulas out there. Every single time it left me feeling like the sleaziest version of myself – cheesy, pushy, and salesy.

Have you ever felt like that when introducing yourself?

If we're going to make networking meaningful again, it's time to change how we approach our elevator pitches.

Because right now they're about sales, it's about being clever to capture someone's attention.

Basically, manipulating another person into paying attention to you, so that maybe they want to buy something from you.

I don't know about you, but I'm not interested in building a relationship with anyone I had to manipulate into talking to me.

 Connection through Ideas

When did we lose the idea that networking should be about connecting and meaningful?

And not only that; providing them with some value, like actually giving value in the sixty seconds that we have to speak. The best way to do that is by leading with your ideas.

And if you've been around me long enough, you know that I believe that your ideas make you stand out in business. In fact, when you start talking about your ideas, that is what is going to create connection.

That is what's going to attract people to you and that's what's going to create meaningful conversations. And when you are the beacon of connections and the instigator of conversations – that's when the magic happens.

Let's start a networking revolution

It's time to take networking back.

It's time that you love talking about your business. It's time that you get excited about going to networking events instead of having it be something that you have to rally for. And it's time to start forming relationships. Caring about the other person you're talking to at the networking event.

I am on a mission to revolutionize networking, to start a movement to make networking a place where meaning is created, relationships are formed, collaborations start happening.

This revolution it STARTS with you! It starts with ditching your old elevator pitch and creatine an business introduction that initiates conversations and connections.

Are you with me?

Yes! Join me for the Love Your Pitch Revolution. This round of Love Your Pitch has closed, but you can join the waiting list to be notified of when the course starts next.