Networking is Broken
Last month I went to a networking event and when I got home Jenna asked how it went. I kind of just shrugged.
"It was fine."
There were a bunch of people, I made a few connections, got pitched a few things before I even exchanged names, and overall just felt like I didn't belong. I blamed myself. I told myself I needed to get more comfortable in these situations and tried to figure out why I didn't enjoy networking events because, as anyone who knows me would tell you, I love talking to people and I genuinely enjoy meeting new people.
The next day I started writing down everything I didn't enjoy about the experience.
Too many people. Who do you even talk to?
Awkward if you don't know anyone.
Overcoming the awkwardness by eating 3 plates of below-average cheese.
Missing family time.
Small talk.
Being sold to all night.
Then I started asking other founders what they thought, and one person summed it up better than I ever could.
"I was at a networking event once and asked the 250-person audience, 'Who is here to sell?' All 250 hands went up. Then I asked, 'Who is here to buy?' 1 hand went up."
That's when it clicked for me, most networking events aren't designed to build relationships, they're designed to generate transactions and I hate transactional selling.
So instead of convincing myself I just needed to get better at networking, I decided to build the experience I actually wanted to attend.
Over the last few years I've had the privilege of sitting in hundreds of conversations with founders. I've seen how often 1 question or 1 introduction changes the trajectory of a business. So I took my own list of frustrations, asked other founders what they wished networking looked like, and flipped the entire thing around.
Instead of a room full of people at varying levels, it's just founders.
Instead of wondering who to talk to, you'll be intentionally connected with founders you can help and founders who can help you.
Instead of everyone trying to sell, the focus is solving real business challenges. If you help another founder solve a problem and someone helps you solve yours, will relationships be built? Absolutely. Will business eventually happen? Probably.
Instead of small talk, we'll start with a meaningful group conversation, spend time making intentional 1:1 connections, and finish by helping one founder work through a real challenge with the entire group.
Most importantly, you don't have to decide between another networking event and dinner with your family, we'll meet during the traditional workday.
And the cheese? That's completely up to you because it's virtual.
Every founder is carrying around a decision, an opportunity, or a challenge. If one conversation helped you solve a $10,000 problem in your business, would 75 minutes and $25 have been worth it?
I think it would.
Introducing The Founders Room
Wednesday, August 26
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM ET
Investment: $25 (Included with a High Achievers membership.)
What to Expect:
Connect:(2) Intentional 1:1 conversations with other founders
Discuss: One meaningful group conversation on a relevant topic
Solve: Help 1 founder work through a business challenge while learning from the discussion
Registration closes August 21 because founder matching is intentional, capacity is limited. I'll review each registration and send a payment link once your spot is confirmed.
I have no idea if this becomes 10 founders every month or 300 founders over the next few years. But I do know this, every founder deserves a place where they can stop pretending everything is fine, help someone else, get help themselves, and leave better than they arrived.
I'm not trying to build a better networking event, I'm trying to build the room every founder wishes they had.