I was playing in a cornhole tournament a few years ago with a friend. Amid our abject failure — we finished in last place — my friend found himself speaking to a couple who owned a wine distribution company. My friend was planning the construction of a commercial building to house his business, but he would likely have warehouse space to rent as well.
Three years later, that couple moved their business into his building.
Five years ago, I was scheduled to play golf with two friends when a fourth was added to the group. For nine holes, the stranger and I got to know each other, and by the end of the round, we had plans to discuss my consulting for his company.
He remains one of my clients today.
The same thing happened last year while on a plane. For three hours, my seatmate and I got to know each other, and when I returned home, I was booked to do some consulting in her company.
Last night, during intermission at a storytelling show, I was talking with a couple about my story. The man had read one of my books and knew my work well. He also works at Lego — a company I have worked with in the past. He asked about the possibility of me doing a workshop or consulting with his department, so we briefly discussed what that might look like before moving on to other things, including his wife’s life coaching business.
I’m not officially a life coach, but I seem to end up in that capacity with many of my clients. We start by talking about marketing, branding, storytelling, keynotes, and social media strategy, but soon, we’re discussing management principles, parenting, conflict resolution, dating, navigating toxic friendships, confidence, and more.
Storytelling forges strong, personal connections and quickly establishes trust between people.
She and I had much to discuss.
But they didn’t sit down with the plan of talking shop. Instead, they wanted to talk about my story, and eventually, the conversation led us to discuss work.
As a result, I may find myself back at Lego headquarters in the future, helping salespeople tell better stories.
Networking often gets a bad name, and I get it. When a person engages with another person with the sole intent of extracting value from them, networking can feel gross.
Justifiably so.
But sometimes — and possibly more often than not — networking is simply spending time with people with whom your business interests might surprisingly intersect. You have a business need, and a person who enters your orbit has a means of fulfilling that need, and eventually, those two things collide.
These serendipitous meetings need not happen on LinkedIn, at a networking event, or at a business conference. They can happen — and best happen — by simply being someone who engages with the world, tries new things, leaves the comfort of a couch and a screen behind, demonstrates curiosity in others, and welcomes adding people to your life.
At its best, networking means living.
Getting out of the house.
Meeting new people.
Asking questions.
Being curious about others for curiosity’s sake.
Seeking and finding fun.
Who knows?
The couple kicking your ass in cornhole might end up being your next great customer.
