20/07/2026
Loved the day today at summer social….but I nearly didn’t go…
As an introvert, networking events can feel quite daunting. The idea of walking into a room full of people I don’t know and making conversation doesn’t come naturally to me at all.
But I’ve made a promise to myself this year to say yes to more opportunities, more visibility and more face-to-face connections. So despite the nerves, I went.
I reminded myself that growth rarely happens when we stay comfortable.
So I pushed myself and went anyway. And im sooo glad I did!
The day was full of value-packed workshops, meeting other local business owners and picking up plenty of ideas to take back into my own business.
One message that came up was about being authentic, telling stories and how building genuine relationships will always be more powerful than trying to make the perfect sales pitch.
One of my favourite takeaways was the idea of creating a Story Bank – keeping a collection of real experiences, lessons learned, client wins and even mistakes to draw on when creating content. It was such a simple idea, but one I’ll definitely try to use. I can see now how stories are so much more memorable than just telling people what you do.
We were also reminded by John at .wellbeing that life is a series of moments…not days, not hours, not years - just moments. We have to live in the moment.
As a freelance brand and graphic designer, I spend a lot of my working week designing behind a screen and that’s where I feel comfortable. But getting out, meeting people and learning from other business owners is something I’m going to make much more of a priority. Even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone.
It was lovely to meet so many inspiring local businesses, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.
Which takeaway resonates most with you: being more authentic by telling more stories, living in the moment or simply getting out and networking more? Let me know in the comments…
businessnetworking
