Every Connection is a Key 🗝️

Power Acronym 201: L.I.N.K.

How did we meet?

School? Church? Work? An event? By chance?

Online or offline?

How do you meet new people?

I’ve been sharpening my networking skills ever since I first heard the phrase: “Your network is your net worth.” Over time, I’ve discovered the value of connecting with people isn’t just financial. I’ve learned, been inspired, supported, and encouraged by people I’ve met in different seasons of life.

These days you’ll find me at local community events—especially those tied to small business—like BNI, Business After Hours, Longview Connections, World’s Richest BNI, Morning Brews, and Lunch & Learns.

Not everyone loves business networking. Some fear being “pitch slapped” or “spammed in person.” Others worry about walking into a room full of strangers or “saying the wrong thing.”

That got me thinking: how could I reframe the value of in-person networking? How could I show the return on the time, money, and energy we invest?

That’s where this Power Acronym comes in.

Power Acronym 201: L.I.N.K.

L - Learn

Learning is the foundation of effective networking.

Don’t stress about perfecting your “elevator pitch.” Communicating who you are and what you do succinctly matters, but that skill develops over time. If you never take an interest in others, you’ll rarely get the results you want anyway.

Instead of focusing on how many business cards you can hand out, focus on what you can learn from the people right in front of you.

• Who are they?

• What makes them tick?

• Why are they there?

• How can you help them?

• Who can you introduce them to?

Learn how you can contribute where you are.

Is there a better first impression?

“He does not learn in order to accumulate learning as his own treasure, but in order that he may devote his learning to the service of the world.” - Rudolf Steiner

I - Invest

Some networking events are free; others require a ticket or membership.

But the most significant investment isn’t money.

It’s time.

Early in my sales career, I learned the phrase “time kills deals.” Meaning: if a sales process drags on too long or becomes too complicated, the buyer may look elsewhere—or put it off entirely.

But here’s the flip side: time creates deals when it’s invested in the right people, places, and conversations.

Not every chat over charcuterie will turn into a contract—and that’s okay. The investment you’re making is in the relationship itself.

Invest yourself. Become the type of person others want to spend time and money with.

Invest in others’ growth, and yours will follow.

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” - Zig Ziglar

N - Neighborhood

If you grew up in a small town like me, you know what it’s like to live where everyone knows you—and your parents.

When I moved to Tyler, a city with 71 times more people than Edgewood, I initially felt anonymous. But after living there over a decade, I started running into people I knew all the time.

Families I once served while waiting tables later became my clients when I sold cars. Now I’m helping those same friends and former coworkers with roofing and business referrals.

If you’re new to networking or business, remember: the strangers you’re speaking to are your neighbors. You never know when that person may be part of your life again. And networking isn’t just about who you know—it’s also about who they know.

“Success in any field, but especially in business, is about working with people, not against them.” - Keith Ferrazi

K - Key

I once heard Dr. Lisa Miller lead a guided meditation that brought me to a “red door.” It represented something I deeply desired and had been working toward. But when I turned the knob, the door was locked.

In the exercise, I was then guided to take a turn and found a “trail angel” pointing me toward a yellow door. It wasn’t what I had in mind, but it represented a new opportunity worth pursuing.

Her lesson was clear: we don’t always get the outcomes we’re hoping for. That doesn’t mean we abandon hope—but it does mean we must be ready to adapt, to stay open to new paths, and to let others guide us along the way.

Every person you meet is a key—maybe to knowledge, to opportunity, or even to unlocking something in yourself.

It’s time to L.I.N.K.!

“There is, in every single human being, inborn, an innate capacity to be in a transcendent relationship.” - Dr. Lisa Miller

It’s time to L.I.N.K.!

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Daily acronyms to encourage, enrich, and empower.

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