Let’s get one thing out of the way: networking is not about collecting business cards like baseball cards. It’s not about transactional schmoozing, elevator pitches, or the awkward dance of “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.” Done right, networking is human, powerful, and dare I say, joyful.
In Adrian’s Network, we’ve spent years cultivating a space where relationships are real, conversations go beyond surface-level small talk, and members actually help one another. We don’t just network, we build something greater. Something lasting. Something that moves the needle in every area of life and business.
So let’s talk about what networking can really do for you when you show up with intention, consistency, and a little bit of chutzpah.
1. Grow Your Business (Yes, Really)
Let’s start with the obvious one. You join a networking group because you want to grow your business. And if anyone tells you otherwise, they’re probably not being fully honest.
Here’s the good news: when you show up, engage, and get involved, business does happen. The referrals roll in. People start sending prospects your way because they know you, like you, and trust you. You become top of mind.
But this only happens when you flip the switch from “What can I get?” to “How can I help?” Give first, give often, and give authentically. Be the person who connects two others even when there’s no direct benefit to you. Be the one who recommends someone’s service, attends their events, and supports their endeavors. It doesn’t go unnoticed.
In our group, we’ve seen everything from simple referrals to full-blown business partnerships take root. Why? Because people buy from people—and especially from people they know.
2. Sharpen Your Skills and Expand Your Knowledge
Networking isn’t just about what you can sell, it’s also about what you can learn.
Where else can you hop on a call with a real estate expert, a digital marketer, an attorney, a life coach, and a bookkeeper all in one week and walk away smarter every time? The collective wisdom inside a vibrant, active networking group is staggering.
In Adrian’s Network, we host workshops, presentations, “ask me anything” sessions, and focused Zoom calls where we get into the nitty-gritty of each member’s work. You learn about industries you never thought you’d touch. You discover tools that save you time and money. You gain insights that you can apply directly to your business.
And you do it all without paying for a single course or conference pass. That’s what we call a win.
3. Make Friends Who Actually Get You
Entrepreneurship and professional life can be lonely. When you’re building something, managing a team, or juggling a dozen client deadlines, it’s easy to feel like you’re living on an island.
But networking offers connection and not the superficial kind.
When you attend networking events regularly, people get to know the real you. They remember your family. They know when you’re launching something new. They send a note when they know you’re having a rough week.
Friendships are formed in these spaces, not because it’s in the brochure, but because being in community naturally breeds closeness. We’ve shared tequila shots after dinners, laughed through speed networking sessions, and cried together when we’ve lost members of our group. These are real relationships. Real friendships.
And in a world that can often feel digital, distant, and transactional, that’s no small thing.
4. Get Involved in Something Bigger Than You
Networking isn’t just about personal gain, it’s about community. It’s about being part of something that feels purposeful and alive. It’s about supporting local businesses, uplifting one another, and collaborating in ways that move the needle for everyone.
That’s what Adrian’s Network is all about.
You’ll see it in the way members rally around someone launching a new product. You’ll see it when someone gets sick and others step up to help. You’ll see it when someone’s business takes a hit and the rest of us say, “Okay, how can we help?”
It’s not just networking. It’s community-building.
And when you feel a part of something larger than yourself, it lights a fire under your professional goals and your personal joy.
5. Stretch Outside Your Comfort Zone (In the Best Way)
Public speaking? Hosting an event? Asking for help?
Networking can push you out of your comfort zone and that’s a good thing.
When you start showing up regularly, you start finding your voice. You get more comfortable talking about your business, articulating your value, and asking for exactly what you need. You learn how to tell your story with confidence and clarity.
You also learn to listen. To ask better questions. To show up for others. And that kind of growth? It spills over into everything else you do.
6. Stay Visible and Relevant
Out of sight really is out of mind.
You could be the best in your industry, but if people aren’t hearing from you, seeing you, and engaging with you, they’re not thinking about you. Networking keeps you on the radar.
When you participate consistently, you create mental real estate in others’ minds. “Oh, I know someone who does that!” becomes the phrase you want everyone in your network to say.
And it only happens if you stay visible.
So show up. Speak up. Share your wins, your challenges, your stories. Let people see who you really are.
7. Fuel Your Passion
Running a business can be tough. Some days you’re energized and on fire. Other days you wonder if you should chuck it all and open a beach bar. (That’s my dream:)
But networking can be a serious shot of adrenaline. You meet someone who’s just launched something amazing and suddenly, your own ideas start flowing. You hear about a client success story and it reminds you why you started. You get a new perspective and feel that creative spark reignite.
Surrounding yourself with other driven, curious, creative people will help you stay driven, curious, and creative too.
8. And Yes, It’s FUN
This might sound counterintuitive for a “business” group but networking should be fun.
We do beach meetups. We toast each other at dinners. We go to the theater. We laugh.
Why shouldn’t building your business also be enjoyable?
Networking can be a source of real joy, if you let it be.
The Magic Is in the Doing
You can read all the articles. Scroll through all the tips. But the truth is, the magic is in the doing.
Join the Zoom. Show up to the dinner. Send the email intro. Make the call. Extend the help.
Just start showing up, being yourself, and building real connections.
Because when you do that, the business will come. The growth will unfold.
But even better? So will the friendships, the learning, the joy, and the feeling that you’re part of something bigger.