One of best pieces of advice I heard as a new business owner was, despite your desire to say “NO” to networking opportunities, just say “YES”.  Practice it, say yes in the mirror and say yes to any invitation that you get this week and next week. I’m an introvert at heart, so attending networking events is exhausting. I had to really focus on doing this for a few months to get comfortable with it. It seems awkward, unnatural, trite and meaningless – but it’s not!

As a business owner who markets your products and services to your local community it’s really critical. There is a community of business owners and business reps that understand that together we are stronger, than we are alone.  Join a Chamber of Commerce, join a referral-based networking group, attend business information gatherings, seek out a local non-profit that you can be passionate about, say yes to an invitation to volunteer at the local high school.

There are so many ways to get out there and meet your market! And if it makes you nervous and anxious, then set a goal for the event to introduce yourself to just 3 people and get to know them a bit. You aren’t trying to sell them your product, you’re allowing them to get to know you. And in turn you are expanding your personal network and will likely meet someone you will like or need down the road. Eventually the comradery becomes comforting and you will start to see faces you recognize and the whole networking thing becomes far less daunting. So I encourage you to just say “YES”!