The Tao of Networking

Networking is often said to be easy, but that's not the whole truth! If it were so simple, why would so many books be written on the subject? Honestly, I find the whole situation a bit strange.

Why is that? Because we humans are inherently social creatures; we crave connection, companionship, and conversation. Without these interactions, we can quite literally wither and fade away!

So, why does the idea of networking tend to intimidate many people? I’m not entirely sure I have a definitive answer, but I recognize several factors from the countless events I’ve attended as a guest and hosted myself.

This brings me to the purpose of this eBook. If you're not familiar with my "story," let me share a condensed version. It all began in 2010. For years, I had been building online networks, but one day a friend asked me to produce a "live" event. My immediate response was a firm no — it seemed like too much work.

Eventually, after much persuasion, I agreed to host an event one cold January day. To my surprise, around 65 people showed up just days after New Year's! The venue was shocked, and that led me to produce more events, growing my fledgling network from nothing to over 3,000 members within the first 18 months.

I even started new chapters—about a dozen—before shifting my focus, adding thousands of additional members. To put this into context, the local chamber of commerce reportedly took 100 years to reach 1,000 members, while I achieved that milestone in just nine months!

But what does this have to do with you? Well, here’s the thing: I am actually an introvert—an INTJ according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I’m a writer and a thinker, and I began my career as a programmer, lacking even basic social skills. “Awkward” would have been a kind way to describe my interactions.

So, what changed? I started reading books. I made a conscious effort to engage with others. I stumbled through many conversations and made some embarrassing mistakes along the way. For instance, it turns out it's not appropriate to tell a woman that her dress reminds you of the drapes in your home!

Through trial and error (mostly error), I developed a set of coping skills to help me with networking. This reference eBook includes about a hundred of my personal insights, categorized into things to do, things not to do, and some advanced tips you might find useful.

Feel free to dive in and read it; it's quick and painless! And don’t forget to connect with me online — you can find me on most social media platforms and at http://jamesburchill.com.

I hope you enjoy "The Tao of Networking," and perhaps I'll see you at one of my events!

James C. Burchill

PS. I've also included 3 BONUS MIND MAPS that condense everything into a pocket-friendly format. Keep them handy when you're out and you'll always know what to do and say!