It’s so funny, I love connecting with good people but I detest traditional networking events. I knew this but went to one anyway.

Great group of women, but the minute I heard, “So, what do you do,” especially before having a conversation, I felt deflated. It’s draining.

When I first started networking as an entrepreneur about 15 years ago, I was trained in the “Know, Like, and Trust” model from Successful Thinkers Network.

With Successful Thinkers you don’t lead with, “What do you do?,” or “What’s your business?” You start with getting to know one another, asking power questions like, “What’s your passion?,” “What lights you up?” You get to know the person in the brief time you have in order to build authentic connections.

People built solid connections from that, both personal and professional. I know I did.

Even though I haven’t gone to any of their events in years, I still carry those lessons with me. So, whenever someone walks up and asks me, “What’s your business?,” etc., I feel bored and robotic.

Like I said, great group of women last night, most networking events I’ve attended has legitimately good people, I’m just not interested in the standard line of questioning.

I want to know, what lights your fire?

Blessings!