Screens 24/7. All around us. You know, like that Black Mirror episode. It’s real now.
We won’t moan like our parents about screen time, but there is a downside. All these screens make it easy to forget those strange, wonderful creatures known as humans we encounter when we leave the house. These humans are the key to everything professionally, personally, spiritually, and more.
People are still at the heart of business, too. Every introduction, referral, buying decision, recommendation, and/or friendly word of encouragement starts and ends with people. For example, you’re 4x more likely to get that next job if a buddy refers you. Wow.
On that fact alone, we’re willing to make the bold assertion that WHO you know is way more important than WHAT you know. In fact, your network is your net worth. If that’s true and you agree, how are you getting to know people?
We made a dire trade decades ago. In exchange for exponential increases in reach with digital everything, we lost depth. Ironically, the real people on our screens got fuzzier as screen resolutions got sharper. More people, less connection.
Your 1,100 connections on LinkedIn is of value, but is it “networking?” It can happen, but it’s rare.
Our DNA requires human connection, real camaraderie, and deep trust. In 2024, we think the world’s craving these kinds of connections more than ever. Retreating to our castles during Covid didn’t help much, either.
If you’re having similar thoughts, it’s worth exploring what networking actually is. Can digital play a part? Absolutely. Can it be old-fashioned and in-person? Preferably. Let’s explore.
At its core, networking is simply making friendships with a professional twist. Who has your back in your career? Whose back do you have? That’s your business network. It’s built on trust and shared time, not a web of connections over social media profiles.
An important caveat here: social platforms are still critical for brand building, list building, credibility, customer relations, brand trust, and more. But person to person trust? That’s built one on one.
It can start on your screen, but you can’t stop there if you want to build real relationships. This is the tension we’re all experiencing right now. A local business owner said it all in one simple statement, "I would rather make 5 in-person connections than 300 digital connections. Tripally is HUGE."
So how do we move past the shallowness of digital connection and into a vibrant network of professional allies?
In short, all you have to do is decide what you’re trying to do. Are you building your audience or building your network? Things like LinkedIn are great for the former, while only in-person networking can achieve the latter.
We got our network the hard way:
Show up, work hard
We highly recommend all of those, except #3. You don’t have to wait.
If networking is one of your priorities, consider taking a revolutionary approach in 2024. Go for more people, not more platforms.
We designed Tripally specifically for people who expect to meet in person for business, in their town, or abroad. You just can’t do that well on any other platform. Tripally breaks through the acquaintance phase and gets you straight to the coffee meet up, no introduction required.
That’s networking.
In 2024, Tripally can be your catalyst for making a vibrant network of authentic connections, shared moments, and trust-building.
Just get on the platform (it’s free!) and start meeting the people you want to meet. In turn, you’ll become the kind of person other people want to meet, too.
The impact of this revolution on your career growth can be immense. Your professional journey isn't defined by the number of connections but by the depth and authenticity of the connections you make.
So here's the deal - let's make it happen. Join the Tripally revolution and redefine your networking experience. Step away from the screens, attend events, join meet-ups, meet with other professionals on Tripally, and in six months you’ll be glad you did.
Get on the waitlist here!
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