Latest / Networking Unleashed: Building Profitable Connections / Networking Unleashed: An Interview with Networking Unleashed: An Interview with Kate Peterman and Michael A Forman, Professional Speaker

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Networking Unleashed: An Interview with Networking Unleashed: An Interview with Kate Peterman and Michael A Forman, Professional Speaker · Networking Unleashed: Building Profitable Connections

• 0:00
  Welcome to Networking Unleashed, Building Profitable
• 0:04
  Connections, the podcast where relationships
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  create opportunity and authentic leadership builds
• 0:10
  lasting success. I'm your host, Michael Foreman.
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  You've probably heard the saying, your network
• 0:16
  is your net worth. But what if your real net
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  worth isn't measured by how many people, it's
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  measured by how deeply people trust you. Today's
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  guest and I explore authentic leadership, living
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  your truth, and why the right relationships come
• 0:33
  from becoming the right person. If you're ready
• 0:37
  to build a network that's grounded in purpose
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  instead of appearances, this episode is for you.
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  And I just want to say, Lashondra, that I go
• 0:48
  across the country speaking about this exact
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  topic. So I'd like to introduce LaShondra to
• 0:56
  my podcast. I think it's going to be a great
• 0:59
  podcast. And why don't you give us a kind of
• 1:03
  a cliff notes of how you got where you are today?
• 1:07
  Yes, absolutely. So thank you so much for having
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  me, Michael. So I spend 35 years working in different
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  corporate environments. 20 plus of those in Fortune
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  15 companies. And so I understood how to navigate
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  highly complex, highly matrixed organizations
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  by connecting with the right people. So it's
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  always, sometimes it's a game of telephone when
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  you're trying to figure out who does what. And
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  so I've made it literally my life's purpose to
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  understand the who, the what, and the how, and
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  to get it done as quickly and effectively as
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  possible so that everybody wins. Good, perfect.
• 1:41
  Okay, I've got a bunch of questions for you.
• 1:44
  And let's see what you're really worth here,
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  okay? Okay. Okay, we hear the phrase, your network
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  is your net worth all the time. Yes. Do you think
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  we've misunderstood what that really means? I
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  do. Thank you for asking that question, Michael,
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  because I think it's, you said earlier in the
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  introduction, you think, oh, if I have... 50
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  ,000 people than I have in my network. No, if
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  you had five people who were just really connected
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  and they understood you, they understood what
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  you did, that's more valuable than the 50 ,000.
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  So I think the numbers that we have is not as
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  important as the depth of the relationships and
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  like you said, how much they trust you. There's
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  a piece of it that I think is so much around
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  how you build your brand and your reputation
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  and how you hold to that and what people can
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  expect every time they reach out to you or connect
• 2:33
  with you or partner with you. Those things are
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  actually what are the value of your network.
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  So when people know that they can reach out to
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  you, they know they're getting the right thing
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  at the right time. They know you're dedicated
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  and committed. And so they want to continuously,
• 2:47
  repeatedly work for you and with you. And they
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  also speak your names in rooms that you're not
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  in. Absolutely. There's a mantra within networking.
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  It's if they know you, if they like you and they
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  trust you, they'll do business with you. And
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  it's very simple for everybody to know you that
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  your 50 ,000 people can know you because your
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  face, but like you, that kind of narrows it down
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  just a little bit, but then trust because you
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  would never do business with somebody that you
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  don't trust. Absolutely. Absolutely. And I'm
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  sure a lot of your listeners get the same thing
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  I get. When you're on LinkedIn, you get bombarded
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  by just random people on, hey, I want to help
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  you do this. Join me and do this. I'm like, I
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  don't even know you. You haven't asked me one
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  question about myself, about my business. You're
• 3:34
  just trying to hit as many people as possible
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  to try to get one to bite. And I'm like, that's
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  not how I do business. And so I'm sure that's
• 3:41
  effective to some people in some ways, but that
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  would never work on me. Absolutely. Me either.
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  So that works. Okay. You talk about authentic
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  leadership. How does authenticity influence the
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  kinds of people we're able to attract into our
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  lives and businesses? Yeah, absolutely. So I
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  think so many times, especially when you're getting
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  into corporate leadership, like I spent so much
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  time doing, is people tell you, oh, you have
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  to act this certain way or be this certain way
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  to get results. And so what that actually does
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  is telling you that the way you are is not. acceptable
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  or not valuable. So you're working so hard trying
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  to be this other person that you miss out on
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  all the what I call the zone of genius, right?
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  So you can't be as productive as innovative and
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  creative as you'd like to be, because you're
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  too busy trying to be this other person in this
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  box. So what I think about authentic leadership
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  is that it unleashes all of the true value that
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  you bring to the organization, to your team,
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  to yourself. And so it's important for you to
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  be able to be authentically who you are, how
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  you think, how you critically make decisions,
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  how you bring, you know, creativity to the work.
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  And that's important on so many levels. So when
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  you are actually authentic, you get much more
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  done. You're much more effective. effective and
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  much more efficient. And so it's important for
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  people to create processes and abilities so people,
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  you can live your authentic life. So as a leader
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  or supervisor or a manager, your job is to remove
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  the barriers from people so that they can do
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  that authentic leadership. Yeah, that's so profoundly
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  put. I go across and I teach everybody about
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  authenticity. And first of all, authenticity,
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  that word is being thrown around. It's, oh my
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  God, I'm not ready. But being yourself. And I
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  never heard it quite put that way where it's
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  perfect. You have to be yourself and you have
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  to allow yourself to go out and think outside
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  the box. And you really can't do that when you're
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  trying to be somebody else. Exactly. That's exactly
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  right. I have to tell you, that was perfectly
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  put. Thank you, Michael. It really was. Thank
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  you so much. Okay. Many people network while
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  trying to impress others. After all, that's what
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  networking is. What changes when someone is comfortable
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  enough to simply be themselves? First of all,
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  I love that question so much. It gives you a
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  chance to just listen. Because to me, anytime
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  you're thinking about networking or partnering
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  with somebody, you're listening for something
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  that's a connection point for the two of you,
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  right? Whether it's something that you have in
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  common, maybe even interests and hobbies, because
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  I like to talk about the person. I don't just
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  say, who are you in terms of what you do? I'm
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  like, who are you in terms of who you are? One
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  of my favorite sayings is we are human beings,
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  not human doings. And so just being has value,
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  but the doing also adds to that. And so when
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  I'm asking people questions, I really want to
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  understand who they are. So when I make that
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  connection point, I'm like, okay, that's good.
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  Now we can connect on that level. And I'm continuing
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  to be able to be a really good listener because
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  that's the way you're going to be a great partner
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  or a great business. say, I can meet your needs,
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  you got to understand what those needs are. And
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  if you don't perfect yourself as being a good
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  listener, you'll never understand those needs.
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  And so to me, that's what's so important is when
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  you're comfortable in who you are, you can just
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  listen and then be able to actually interact
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  with that person in a way that really is meaningful
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  to them. Absolutely. Let me ask you a question.
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  What would you do if you go up to somebody and
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  say, okay, what do you do? And they give you
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  that canned 30 second elevator speech. So the
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  first thing is, I don't even ask them the question,
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  what do you do? I say, tell me who you are. And
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  they want to immediately start with, I work in
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  this job and I do this. And I said, not what
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  you do. Tell me who you are. And so I always
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  make that distinction to ask the very specific
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  questions so that they understand what I'm trying
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  to get at. Because that has opened up so many
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  more doors for me networking, Michael, than asking,
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  oh, what do you do? Because I don't want the
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  canned answer. I want the authentic, what it
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  is from the heart. What drives you every day?
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  What wakes you up? What's that purpose that you're
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  living that makes? the difference. And that's
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  what I want to know about. Very good. Very good.
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  Because what I teach is when I ask you that question
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  and they give me a 30 second elevator speech,
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  I said, okay, let's perfect your 30 seconds and
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  we perfect it. Say, okay, now throw that out
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  and bring it down to 10 seconds. That usually
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  throws them for a loop. We get it down to 10
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  seconds. I said, that's great. Now throw it out.
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  Yep. Because I want to know the feeling that
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  you give to the other person about what you do.
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  And that tells so much more than what you do.
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  So I introduce all the different things. But
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  that's really what I'm after is the feeling that
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  I'm a public professional speaker. I'm an executive
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  business coach. And what do I do? I turn conversations
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  into clients. without leaving money on the table.
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  That's what I do. And then I'll tell you, oh,
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  I'm a business coach. Sure, fine. But that's
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  what I do. Okay. So many people network while
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  trying to impress others. What changes? Oh, I
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  just asked you that question. That's silly, isn't
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  it? That's okay. Let's go to number four. Okay.
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  So living your truth sounds inspiring, but it
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  can also be uncomfortable. Have there ever been
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  moments when staying true to your values cost
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  you an opportunity, yet ultimately led to something
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  better? Oh, absolutely. I love this question.
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  Probably the most of anything you've asked me
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  so far. That's one of my favorite pieces because
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  I think when you are your authentic self, you
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  attract the power. The clients, the partners,
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  those people who want to do business with you.
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  I'm a very specific kind of brand. I tell people
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  all the time, I'm a storyteller. I'm a very public,
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  very loud, very dynamic storyteller. If you want
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  somebody who's quiet and reserved, that's not
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  going to be me. So anything about my branding
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  does not look like that at all. So when I'm living
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  my truth, I come out and I'm funny. I'm a little
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  quirky, but I always come rooted in real data
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  and lived experience. And so if people are looking
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  for that, kind of interaction, then that's what
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  they get with me every single time. Like every
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  single time, which is around the brand. If you're
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  building a brand, they need to have that experience
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  every time they do with you or anybody working
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  on your team. And so that is what's super important
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  to me is that I live exactly what I say I am
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  and people get that. And they keep coming back
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  and I get referrals all the time. And that is
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  the biggest honor for me is to have repeat business
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  and referrals from those I've done business with.
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  And that to me is the ultimate pinnacle of doing
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  business. being a good business person. Absolutely.
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  And you told me that you put humor into everything,
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  as do I, because it's usually self -deprecating,
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  right? Because I'm not going to make fun of somebody
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  else. And when you turn it on yourself, they
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  start laughing and they're not sure why they're
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  laughing, but they're laughing at you as I join
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  the party because everybody else is laughing
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  at me also. Exactly. You make the room more fun
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  and people become more interested and pay attention
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  a little bit more. So yeah, that's exactly what
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  I do also. Very good. Yes. And it delivers humanity.
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  First of all, we want to everybody know, hey,
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  I'm human. I'm not robot. So if I mess up some
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  words or something, one of my favorite things,
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  if you as a public speaker, you probably know
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  I was saying something and a whole bunch of spit
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  just flew right out of my mouth. And I'm like,
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  front row, if you didn't expect the second shower
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  today, I'm so glad I was able to meet that need
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  for you. So it's like you just say stuff like
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  that because you want to. It's human to do that.
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  So you just humanize it all. And it makes people
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  feel a lot more comfortable. Absolutely. I have
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  to tell you, there was one time I was on stage,
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  and it was just about a stage that was about
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  a foot and a half high, and then the room. And
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  as I'm speaking and talking, the stage collapsed,
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  right? And I went down about a foot and a half.
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  I was still standing about a foot and a half,
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  and everybody was like, and I said, I'm feeling
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  mighty low. I owned the situation. I got out
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  of it. And I went on with the show. And that
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  was really it. And afterwards, the event planners
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  came up to me and said that was perfect. They
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  apologized and everything, but it was perfect.
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  That's wonderful. Love that. Do you believe people
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  are attracted more to confidence, competence,
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  or authenticity? Which one creates the deepest
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  trust over time? That's such a great question,
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  Michael. And I honestly think it might be based
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  on the situation. I was having this conversation
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  actually just last week about confidence and
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  walking in your confidence. And you could be
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  confidently wrong in a lot of cases, right? You
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  can walk in and you can present yourself as knowing
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  what you're talking about and you sound good,
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  but you're literally making stuff up. So I think
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  that's a challenge. But people look at that as
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  maybe, oh, do they really know what you're talking
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  about? You need to do a little bit of investing.
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  Right. And then the competence piece to me is
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  you can be competent what you're doing, but you're
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  a little timid to share it. So there's a piece
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  of this like, oh, I don't know if I can really
• 13:18
  trust this person because I know this is true,
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  but I'm not sure. And they're not looking at
• 13:22
  you and they're looking down. You're like, so
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  that doesn't really show it. To me, authenticity
• 13:26
  brings both of those together. If you're confident
• 13:30
  in knowing, hey. I really know this or, hey,
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  I don't know this at all. I need to research
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  this. I think that's a beautiful thing. And when
• 13:36
  you show up in that authentic way saying this
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  is what I do really when I'm really competent
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  in this. But then this is what I know I do really
• 13:43
  when I'm confident in it. So that authenticity
• 13:44
  to me brings both of them together in a marriage
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  that is exactly what people need to build the
• 13:50
  most trust. Yes, absolutely. And you hit it when
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  you said you can be confident not knowing what
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  you're talking about, but you can be confident.
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  But then that chisels away your authenticity.
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  Yes. So it chisels it away a little bit. So you're
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  right. Authenticity brings about all three together.
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  And so that's a very good answer. Thank you.
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  In today's AI driven world where polished content
• 14:17
  is everywhere. Do you think authenticity has
• 14:21
  become one of the rarest and most valuable leadership
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  qualities? I really do. I struggle with this
• 14:29
  one so much because when I talk to a lot of my
• 14:32
  clients, they're like laying people off saying,
• 14:34
  we got to make room for AI. And I say, AI is
• 14:37
  a tool, y 'all. It's not to replace people. It's
• 14:40
  to help them be more effective, more efficient,
• 14:43
  and to focus on the things that they do best,
• 14:45
  right? There will never be a time we don't need
• 14:47
  human skills. There will never be a time that
• 14:50
  we don't need human skills. And so I appreciate
• 14:53
  what AI can do. For me, it's just like a Google
• 14:55
  search or if you're old enough to understand
• 14:57
  Encyclopedia Britannica, when you get those subscriptions,
• 15:01
  there are tools to help you understand how to
• 15:04
  develop arguments, how to gain more knowledge
• 15:06
  and to be able to do your job more effectively.
• 15:09
  And so for me. AI is just the tool. And what
• 15:12
  we have to do is continue to help humans know
• 15:15
  how to utilize that tool to the best of their
• 15:18
  ability so that their authenticity can shine,
• 15:21
  where they can take away some of those more mundane,
• 15:23
  menial tasks that take so much of their time
• 15:26
  and effort and burns people out, honestly. And
• 15:28
  now you can really focus on that value that you're
• 15:31
  bringing to not only the organization, but to
• 15:34
  the clients that you serve. I'm so glad that
• 15:37
  you said AI is a tool, right? Because it's just
• 15:41
  a quiver in your arrow and it's a tool and you
• 15:44
  don't have to get rid of people. You can make
• 15:47
  the people who are there better and be more effective.
• 15:51
  So instead of hiring another person, the people
• 15:55
  there can do more with less. That's exactly right.
• 15:59
  So I frown upon employers that are getting rid
• 16:03
  of people. To bring in AI tools because it is
• 16:06
  a tool, as you said. Yes, that's exactly right.
• 16:10
  Because I don't know any person in construction
• 16:12
  that leaves a hammer on the table and says, okay,
• 16:14
  that hammer is the tool that's going to do everything.
• 16:16
  No, it's not. That's right. That's right. That's
• 16:19
  a very good analogy. I'm going to write that
• 16:22
  down as a matter of fact. A carpenter, a construction
• 16:25
  worker, it's a tool. It's like you can't lay
• 16:28
  it on the table and say, okay, go to work. Exactly.
• 16:31
  It's not going to do anything. You've got to
• 16:33
  be the one behind it. So very good. Okay. What's
• 16:38
  the difference between attracting a large network
• 16:41
  and attracting the right network? And how can
• 16:45
  someone tell when they're building relationships
• 16:48
  that truly fit their values? I love this question
• 16:53
  too. You come up with some really great questions,
• 16:54
  Michael. I'm loving this. I think about the influencer
• 16:57
  market that we're in right now, right? So you
• 17:00
  see so many people on social media that's like,
• 17:02
  I'm an influencer and I have 100 ,000 followers,
• 17:04
  so you should just trust me. And I'm like, okay,
• 17:07
  that's cool, but how did you get those 100 ,000?
• 17:10
  And then what is the value that you're giving
• 17:12
  to them? But what is also the value they're giving
• 17:13
  back to you? Because if I had 100 ,000 followers,
• 17:16
  and I'm not mad at anybody who has 100 ,000 followers,
• 17:18
  there's no way you can make authentic relationships
• 17:20
  with 100 ,000. thousand people. There's zero
• 17:23
  way. Zero way. And most of it is just noise.
• 17:26
  But if you, again, come back to having, I have
• 17:29
  10 people that have got my back, that understand
• 17:33
  me, that see the value that I bring, those 10
• 17:37
  are the multiplier factor that you need. And
• 17:40
  to me, that is the most important. How can you
• 17:42
  go deep as much as you can, not necessarily wide,
• 17:45
  but you can go wide and deep to a certain amount,
• 17:48
  but not everybody. And so really understanding
• 17:50
  first and foremost, what is it you're actually
• 17:53
  going after? ask the right questions first to
• 17:56
  understand the outcomes that you want. And then
• 17:58
  I always work backwards. Okay. If this is the
• 18:01
  outcome I want, what are the steps I need to
• 18:03
  do to get there? And so I try to trace that back
• 18:06
  to one, I say. And so that is the most important
• 18:08
  thing is first and foremost, decide what is the
• 18:11
  outcome you actually want with that network and
• 18:13
  then work your way backwards to think how is
• 18:16
  the most effective way I can get that done. That's
• 18:20
  a very good. That's a financial and a marketing
• 18:24
  tool that you always look at your end results.
• 18:27
  Okay. That's how I got here. That's what I want
• 18:30
  to do. How can I get there? And you dissect it
• 18:34
  right down to, okay, I have to get three clients
• 18:37
  this week, right down to that point. So that's,
• 18:40
  and I use that all the time. So you're hitting
• 18:44
  it right on the nail, right on the head. Thank
• 18:47
  you. Okay. When you've built your strongest partnerships.
• 18:51
  What mattered more in the beginning, shared goals
• 18:54
  or shared values? Ooh, a hundred percent shared
• 18:58
  values. It's always to me, you got to appreciate
• 19:02
  and respect the people that you're working with.
• 19:04
  It brings so much more to the table. And I will
• 19:07
  tell you from examples of me working in those
• 19:11
  larger matrix companies, we worked with some
• 19:13
  folks that I feel like were some suspect and
• 19:17
  shady and I didn't like doing it, but I was beholden
• 19:20
  to a corporate paycheck. So I did what I had
• 19:22
  to do. But as a business owner, I get to make
• 19:25
  a different decision. And I say, these are the
• 19:27
  values and I wear them loud and proud on my sleeve,
• 19:30
  on my website, everywhere. So people know what
• 19:32
  they're getting into as soon as they. connect
• 19:34
  with me or see me anywhere on social media. And
• 19:37
  so that's the first thing. So I'm going to ask
• 19:39
  them, how do you treat your people? First and
• 19:41
  foremost, I'm human centered and I'll tell people
• 19:43
  that 100%. I'm not just about the financial aspect.
• 19:46
  How are you treating your people and how are
• 19:48
  you helping them with the financial aspect of
• 19:50
  their lives? And if we mesh there, then we can
• 19:53
  continue the conversation about what the mutual
• 19:55
  goals are that we have for each other and how
• 19:57
  we can help each other get there. Hey, all right.
• 20:02
  All right. I like that answer too. This is great.
• 20:04
  Okay. How do leaders create environments where
• 20:09
  people feel safe enough to be honest, vulnerable,
• 20:12
  or fully engaged instead of simply performing?
• 20:17
  Absolutely. First, they lead by example. I always
• 20:19
  tell my leaders, I said, the most important ways
• 20:22
  that you can show up as a leader is through vulnerability,
• 20:25
  humility, and authenticity. And if you know something,
• 20:28
  say you know it. If you don't know something,
• 20:30
  say, I don't know that, but I can find out. People
• 20:32
  love truth and they love humanity. So all of
• 20:36
  us, as we know, we're flawed as humans. So just
• 20:38
  saying, hey, I don't know, but. Together, we
• 20:41
  do know. And I think that's the biggest piece
• 20:43
  is always people want things done with them,
• 20:46
  not to them. So when you address it with your
• 20:49
  team and say, hey, we have this problem we need
• 20:51
  to solve. I have this much information, but I
• 20:54
  know each of you have information as well. How
• 20:56
  can we bring all the relevant information together
• 20:58
  to make a solution that we can all work toward
• 21:01
  together? That buy -in means so much to folks.
• 21:04
  They really say, oh, you value what I bring to
• 21:06
  the table. I'm not just a task doer. I'm actually
• 21:10
  a part of seeing the success of this organization.
• 21:13
  And so when leaders are able to create that kind
• 21:15
  of environment where it's two -way communication,
• 21:18
  two -way communication, and that everybody's
• 21:20
  involved in it, decision -making, that is so
• 21:23
  important. And that doesn't mean abdicating your
• 21:26
  responsibilities as a leader for leading the
• 21:29
  team. It's saying, I need input from all of you
• 21:32
  to make the best decisions that we can move forward
• 21:34
  together. That was very good. And I noticed that
• 21:38
  you constantly use the word leader instead of
• 21:42
  boss. Yes. Okay. Because there is such a difference
• 21:46
  between being a leader and being a boss. And
• 21:49
  part of my workshop that I do is brings that
• 21:53
  into it. The difference between being a leader
• 21:56
  and a boss. And you always say you want to be
• 21:59
  a leader instead of a boss. A boss, you can go
• 22:03
  on the street and find a boss. right? To regurgitate
• 22:07
  your policies. But to be a leader, that's so
• 22:10
  different. You have to be part of that. But yeah,
• 22:13
  so before I give you the last question, if your
• 22:16
  network became a mirror of your character tomorrow,
• 22:20
  what would you be proud of that reflection? I
• 22:24
  would be so proud of how we think about not only
• 22:28
  ourselves, but each other. Whenever we make a
• 22:31
  decision, we're like, how is this going to impact
• 22:33
  the greater good, the greater world, our team?
• 22:35
  You start with yourself as a small circle and
• 22:38
  it's, okay, myself, then my team, then my company,
• 22:41
  then my world, right? So I always think about
• 22:43
  the ripple effect. If you throw a stone in the
• 22:45
  water, it starts small and it ripples out. And
• 22:48
  that's what I always think about in terms of
• 22:50
  how my... my network looks at me and reflects
• 22:53
  me and I reflect them is how do we start small
• 22:56
  and let that ripple effect multiplier just continues
• 22:59
  to go out so that everybody can win. It's not
• 23:02
  a win -lose situation. It's a win -win all the
• 23:04
  time. Very good. Very good. Okay. So let's bring
• 23:08
  this podcast full circle. If someone listening
• 23:12
  wanted to build a network that reflected the
• 23:15
  person that they aspire to become, not just the
• 23:19
  career they hope to have. What would you encourage
• 23:22
  them to start doing today? I would encourage
• 23:26
  them number one to start doing wherever you are.
• 23:28
  Are you in a company? Have you talked to your
• 23:31
  team? Have you talked to teams that are completely
• 23:34
  right adjacent to you? How have you built relationships?
• 23:36
  Not just about, hey, I need a transaction. I
• 23:39
  need you to do this thing for me. How have you
• 23:41
  built a relationship? And those kinds of things
• 23:44
  are super important. I come from a hospitality
• 23:46
  background and I say there's a difference between
• 23:48
  hospitality and customer service. Customer service
• 23:51
  is transactional. Hospitality is relational.
• 23:53
  We're building long -term relationships. So I'm
• 23:56
  always practicing hospitality. And I think everybody.
• 24:00
  has the ability to do that, you have to put your
• 24:03
  hand out first and say, hi, I'm Law Baker, and
• 24:05
  I want to get to know you and how you work and
• 24:08
  how you think. And I want to be able to see how
• 24:10
  can we partner together to us be successful together.
• 24:13
  And when you say that, that opens up a whole
• 24:16
  nother door for people to be able to like, oh,
• 24:19
  okay, let's talk a little bit. Let's share and
• 24:21
  let's build together. Because it's not about
• 24:24
  extraction. It's about how do you actually build
• 24:27
  each other and grow together now you said law
• 24:33
  baker You don't use LaChandra? I do, but most
• 24:36
  of my people just, because I'm just, I'm so simple.
• 24:39
  I'm just regular all the time, Michael. So people
• 24:41
  just call me La most of the time. Okay. I want
• 24:45
  to make sure because if I was calling you something
• 24:47
  wrong this whole time and you didn't say anything,
• 24:50
  okay, I just want to make sure. No, you're not
• 24:51
  at all. Just people just, once you get more familiar
• 24:54
  with me, everyone just calls me La. So you can
• 24:56
  call me La going forward, Michael, because we're
• 24:58
  familiar with each other now. Thank you very
• 25:01
  much. Thank you. La, I want to. Thank you so
• 25:04
  much for coming on the podcast because this was
• 25:07
  extraordinary. We are so much on the same level
• 25:11
  thinking -wise that it's uncanny. But listen,
• 25:16
  if somebody wanted to get hold of you, either
• 25:18
  to be mentored by you, to be coached by you,
• 25:21
  or just to say hi, how would they do it? Absolutely.
• 25:25
  So my website is LBB Edutainment because it's
• 25:29
  my initials, LBB and then Edutainment because
• 25:32
  we're the juxtaposition of educating and entertaining
• 25:34
  like yourself. We bring that together. And then
• 25:37
  I'm all socials at LBB Edutainment so they can
• 25:41
  find me anywhere. Absolutely. This was so inspiring.
• 25:45
  Okay. The biggest takeaway, the strongest relationships
• 25:48
  aren't built by trying to impress people. They're
• 25:52
  built by... being genuine enough to people to
• 25:55
  trust you. If you enjoyed this episode, follow,
• 25:58
  subscribe to Networking Unleashed, Building Profitable
• 26:02
  Connections for more conversations on networking,
• 26:05
  communication, leadership, and business growth.
• 26:08
  And if this episode made you think differently
• 26:10
  about relationships, make it with somebody who
• 26:13
  believes success begins with authenticity. If
• 26:18
  you're looking for a keynote speaker or executive
• 26:20
  communication coach to help your organization
• 26:23
  build stronger relationships, communicate with
• 26:26
  greater impact, and create meaningful business
• 26:29
  connections, visit michelaforman .com. So until
• 26:33
  next time, remember, your network isn't built
• 26:36
  by collecting contacts. It's built by earning
• 26:39
  trust, living your values, and becoming someone
• 26:43
  people are proud to know. La, I will tell you
• 26:46
  again. This was a great podcast. Thank you so
• 26:50
  much for having me, Michael. Oh, I would like
• 26:56
  to welcome you to the Fusion Alliance Business
• 26:59
  Expo 2. That's right. We're having another. networking
• 27:04
  expo. Now, this one is going to be even better
• 27:07
  than the first one in March. This one is October
• 27:10
  22nd, held at iPhone Restaurant and Event Center,
• 27:15
  6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Georgia. Now, this
• 27:20
  is your chance. This is your chance to showcase
• 27:23
  your business, connect with the community, and
• 27:26
  gain unmatched exposure. This event is designed
• 27:30
  to highlight your thriving business and is a
• 27:33
  must -attend gathering for most local leaders
• 27:36
  and entrepreneurs. So now, what is there going
• 27:41
  to be? First of all, it's free admission to the
• 27:43
  public. So come one, come all. There's going
• 27:46
  to be a large audience to see your business.
• 27:49
  You're going to gain new customers, build your
• 27:52
  brand, and establish strategic... partnerships.
• 27:55
  So whether you're looking to gain new customers,
• 27:59
  build your brand, or establish strategic partnerships,
• 28:03
  Business Expo 2 is the place to be. Don't miss
• 28:07
  your chance to be part of this exclusive annual
• 28:10
  showcase of Johns Creek's best businesses. Remember,
• 28:14
  it's October 22nd. Remember that. October 22nd
• 28:19
  between the hours of 11 a .m. and 4 p .m. The
• 28:23
  location? 6 ,000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Johns
• 28:27
  Creek. You can go to the website, and it's www
• 28:32
  .fusionalliance .info. F -U -S -I -O -N -A -L
• 28:39
  -L -I -A -N -C -E .info. You can get all of it
• 28:44
  there. You can be a vendor. You can be a sponsor.
• 28:46
  Or if you want, you can just come on and enjoy
• 28:49
  it. So come on down. Everyone else is going to
• 28:52
  be there. And just... Enjoy yourself. That's
• 28:56
  a wrap, folks. A huge thank you to our guests
• 28:59
  for sharing such incredible insights today. And
• 29:02
  of course, a big shout out to you, our amazing
• 29:05
  listeners, for tuning in and spending your time
• 29:08
  with us. If you're interested in my digital courses,
• 29:11
  being coached, or having me come and talk to
• 29:14
  your company, just go to Michael and fill out
• 29:18
  the request form. Remember... Networking isn't
• 29:21
  about being perfect. It's about being present.
• 29:24
  So take what you've learned today, get out there,
• 29:27
  and make some meaningful connections. If you've
• 29:30
  enjoyed this episode, please don't forget to
• 29:33
  subscribe. Leave us a review and share it with
• 29:36
  someone who could use a little networking inspiration.
• 29:39
  Let's keep the conversation going. You can find
• 29:42
  me on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, or my
• 29:47
  website, foreman .com slash podcasts.