Turning Colleagues into Clients

This networking scenario — and path-to-solution — is from my new book The Social Billionaire: A Networking Roadmap for Women Seeking to Flourish and Achieve More. The book is research-backed and draws on the real career experiences of ambitious women. It's designed to show you where the most powerful shifts in your networking approach can be made — and how to reach the career milestones you're after.

Networking Scenario: The Consultant Who Can't Convert

GK is seeking to build a vibrant and profitable consulting practice. Her challenge is converting connections from former colleagues — who are more than delighted to catch up socially — into profitable, paying clients. She also needs a sustainable approach to networking to ensure a steady flow of projects, and one that reflects her hands-on approach to parenting.

Networking Prescription for GK:

• Build an inner circle of door-openers (Chapter 5 - Unlock Your High-Achieving Network): Prioritize pulling together a personal board of directors (aka an inner circle) of busy, well-connected influencers — people whose networks can open doors you want opened (or can direct you to where you can find the key) and won't hold back on referring or recommending you.
• Explore Opportunities At Intersections (Chapter 6 - Networking: Three High Impact Practices): This exercise invites you to discover where your personal interests and professional goals overlap — and who you could collaborate with on business development in unique ways so it doesn't feel like "networking" at all.
• Make a Prioritization Pie (Chapter 4 - Grit: What's Your Fuel?): This quick visual exercise addresses the "not enough time" problem. Draw a circle, write what you want to accomplish in the middle, map how you're actually spending your time around it, to see what's actually eating your pie.
• Marie Kondo your commitments (Chapter 4 - Grit: What's Your Fuel?): Step back and review of everything currently on your plate — the professional as well as the personal — to identify what on your calendar is bringing you closer to your goals, and which commitments are just taking up space.

📖 The Social Billionaire: A Networking Roadmap for Women Seeking to Flourish and Achieve More is full of exercises, reflections, and networking prescriptions to help you network your ambitions. Grab your copy - and a pen, it's a workbook.

🗝️ If you’re planning events designed to boost women’s professional connections, let’s talk, as I’d love insights from The Social Billionaire to be part of these conversation.

⭐️ And when you've read it — an honest 5-star on Goodreads would mean a great deal. Reviews are how books get found - and I'd like more women (who are like GK) to find this book.