📌 Tuesday December 3

• Small Business Virtual Networking | $15

• Introverted Women Entrepreneurs | $5

• NYC Business Networking - Health & Wellness | $5

📌 Wednesday December 4

• Elevate Virtual Conference & Career Fair | $0-$10,000

📌 Thursday December 5

• Empowered Business Networking | $44-$88

• Realty 411 Network | $13.50 - $27

📌 Friday December 6

• Women Leaders & Entrepreneurs | Free

• Women Entrepreneur Mastermind | $26.65

📌 Saturday December 7

• 2025 Annual Planning for HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical Contractors | $497

 🙃 Networking: A Step-Up Plan for Introverts

Let’s be honest—networking can feel like speed dating, but instead of looking for love, you’re hoping someone will hire you or invest in your business. Awkward? If the thought of walking into a room full of strangers makes you want to hide under a blanket, don’t worry—you’re not alone. This step-by-step plan is designed to help you ease into networking over 8 weeks, with manageable daily and weekly tasks that build confidence, create opportunities, and foster lasting relationships.

So, What’s the Plan? 

• Timeline: 8 weeks to turn networking from “ugh” to “I’ve got this.”

• Time Commitment: Just 10–15 minutes a day or 1–3 hours per week (that’s less than your Netflix time, let’s be real).

• The Goal: Build real, meaningful connections at your own pace—and actually enjoy the process.

Why it’ll Work

• No Fake Smiles Required: Start small by engaging online and picking events where awkward silence isn’t an option.

• Low Pressure, Big Payoff: Learn how to use structured events and one-on-one chats to make connections that actually matter.

• Create a System That Sticks: Develop sustainable habits so you can grow your network without sacrificing your sanity (or Netflix binges).

By the end of it, you’ll go from “please don’t make me talk to people” to confidently building relationships that open doors. So, let’s get into it!

Step 1: Start Small & Build Confidence (Week 1)

Diving headfirst into networking can feel overwhelming. Starting small helps you dip your toes into the water instead of belly-flopping into a sea of anxiety.

Time Commitment: 10–15 minutes/day (1–2 hours total for the week)

Daily Tasks: 

• Spend 10 minutes updating your LinkedIn and engaging with posts.

Goal: Connect with 5–10 people online and comment on 2–3 posts.

Step 2: Join Low-Pressure Networking Events (Weeks 2-3) 

Big, crowded networking events are a nightmare for introverts. Virtual or small-scale events let you practice in a structured, non-threatening environment. Think of it as networking with training wheels.

Time Commitment: 2–3 hours/week (including prep and event attendance)

Weekly Tasks:

• Find and register for 1–2 virtual networking events.

• Spend 30 minutes preparing your intro pitch and researching attendees or topics.

• Attend the event (1–1.5 hours per event).

• Write down names and notes on 5 key connections.

Goal: Attend 2 events and meet at least 5 people per event.

Step 3: Follow Up and Go 1-on-1 (Weeks 4-5) 

The magic happens after the event. Building relationships comes from following up and having meaningful conversations—not just collecting names like Pokémon cards.

Time Commitment: 1–1.5 hours/week

Weekly Tasks:

• Spend 30 minutes drafting and sending follow-up messages to your connections.

• Schedule 2–3 virtual coffee chats (15–20 minutes each).

• Take notes on each conversation for your tracker.

Goal: Have 3–5 one-on-one conversations.

Step 4: Start Giving Back (Weeks 6-7)

People remember the ones who help, not the ones who just ask. Offering value without expecting anything in return builds genuine goodwill—and makes networking feel less transactional.

Time Commitment: 1 hour/week

Weekly Tasks:

• Post 1 helpful or interesting article or tip on LinkedIn (15 minutes).

• Engage with posts from your network (15–20 minutes).

• Look for opportunities to offer value, such as making an introduction or sharing a resource (30 minutes).

Goal: Make 1 helpful introduction and share 2–3 valuable pieces of content.

Step 5: Reflect, Refine & Scale Up (Week 8+)

Networking isn’t about going viral—it’s about steady, meaningful progress. Regularly reflecting on what’s working (and what isn’t) keeps your efforts focused and rewarding.

Time Commitment: 1 hour total for Week 8; ongoing commitment depends on goals.

Tasks:

• Review your tracker and assess your progress (30 minutes).

• Adjust your goals based on what worked.

• Set a new target, such as attending a larger event or hosting your own networking session.

Goal: Create an ongoing habit of networking that feels sustainable.

Weekly Time Commitment Summary

Weeks 1–3: ~2–3 hours/week (mostly attending events and prep).

Weeks 4–5: ~1–1.5 hours/week (focus on follow-ups and 1:1 chats).

Weeks 6–7: ~1 hour/week (adding value and staying active).

Week 8: ~1 hour (reflect and set new goals).

By committing 1–3 hours per week, you’ll steadily build a strong, meaningful network without sacrificing your energy or comfort. Ready to give it a try? 😊

Here’s a networking tracker to help you keep track. Feel free to download it or make a copy.

If you’d like to hear my personal story on how I went from being an introvert to well…let’s just say more “comfortable with the process”, follow me on Linkedin. I’ll be publishing that article this week!

News You Can Actually Use 📰

👂 Linkedin Kills Live Audio Events-Because No One Cared
LinkedIn quietly axed its live audio events feature, and honestly...did anyone even notice? Looks like the platform’s attempt to copy Clubhouse was a flop. RIP.

🙏 Gratitude Posts on LinkedIn: Genuine Connection or Corporate Cringe?
LinkedIn is suddenly the gratitude capital of the internet, with everyone saying “thanks” louder than ever. Is it a heartwarming trend or just another sneaky flex? Either way, if you haven’t jumped on the thank-you train, you might be missing out.

👶 Parenting + Networking: Finally, a Match Made in Nap Time
Seattle tech leader Jennifer Wong launches a networking app just for parents of young kids. Because who better to brainstorm big ideas with than someone who also knows the pain of stepping on a LEGO?

👩‍🏫 Gen Z Would Rather Have Mentors Than Money (No, Really)
According to a new survey, Gen Z would rather have career growth and mentorship than fat salaries. Bold move for a generation also known for $10 lattes.

🩺 Paging Dr. LinkedIn: This Doc Just Launched a Network for Healthcare Pros
Forget LinkedIn—Dr. Chandrika Kambam built Anastomos, a platform just for medical pros. Need a mentor, a job, or a career check-up? This site’s got you covered—no copay required.

✍️ More Than 50% of All Lengthy Linkedin Posts are AI Generated
Turns out, no one is reading your epic 3,000-word LinkedIn posts. Over half of long-form content gets ignored entirely, and LinkedIn posts are no exception. If you’re not grabbing attention fast, your “insightful” masterpiece might just be a scroll-past casualty.

How I Can Help You Grow 🚀

1. Hire me as your Fractional CMO. Not only can I help develop your growth strategy, align marketing and sales teams, and develop customer journey maps, I can also create and execute high-impact campaigns, audit your tech stack and make sure you’re leveraging the right data to measure success.

2. Generate Leads through BLKBOOK Events. When you sponsor an industry-specific virtual speed networking event, I handle the outreach and set up targeted campaigns to get your ideal customers to show up. Then, you can hand-pick who you want to meet face-to-face with.

3. Earn Commission & Shared Revenue. Want to attend BLKBOOK events for free and get paid? Become an affiliate and start earning commissions on ticket sales and sponsorship referrals.

4. Hire me as your Virtual Event Consultant. From a small half day summit to a full 5 day conference, I’ve organized, managed and produced a variety of virtual events. I can help with sourcing speakers, running tech checks, marketing and even hiring additional production assistants.

Interested in working together? Let’s connect!👇

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