For over two decades, I lived in the corporate world where networking was more of an afterthought. Meetings were scheduled for you, introductions came from internal hierarchies, and your circle rarely expanded beyond your department, vendors, or clients.
When I left that world 8 months ago to start my own business brokerage office, I quickly realized something:
If I didn’t network on purpose, nothing was going to happen.
No emails would pop into my inbox.
No scheduled calls would magically appear.
It was all on me.
And that was the best thing that ever happened to me.
In these 8 months, by networking intentionally and putting it on the calendar as a critical business-building activity, I’ve built a pipeline, created meaningful relationships, and closed real deals—faster than I ever thought possible.
The 5 Things I Did to Network on Purpose (And How They Showed Up on My Calendar)
1. Scheduled Weekly 1:1s (Non-Negotiable)
Every week, I blocked 3-5 hours on my calendar exclusively for one-on-one meetings.
I didn’t leave this to chance. I proactively reached out to CPAs, attorneys, bankers, and fellow entrepreneurs.
Even if they didn’t have an immediate deal, these conversations led to referrals, collaborations, and friendships that paid dividends later.
✔ On my calendar: Every Monday morning, I sent outreach messages; Every Wednesday and Friday, 1:1 Zoom or coffee meetings.
2. Made Business RadioX My Platform, Not Just a Podcast
Rather than pitch people cold, I invited them to be guests on Business RadioX.
This became my most powerful networking tool. It gave others visibility, built trust, and opened doors to meaningful conversations I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
I treated every guest as a potential partner, client, or referral source.
✔ On my calendar: 2 guest recordings per month; pre-call meetings scheduled the week before.
3. Replaced Lunch Meetings with Physical Networking Activities
One of the most game-changing shifts I made was combining networking with physical activities I love—golfing, powerlifting, hiking, and walking.
Instead of saying, “Let’s grab lunch,” I started saying, “Let’s hit the course, the gym, or the trail.“
This made my networking more memorable, healthier, and authentic. Some of my strongest relationships were built over early morning squats or walking 9 holes together.
✔ On my calendar: Fridays blocked for golf networking; 1-2 workouts per week scheduled with key contacts.
4. Joined Networking Groups and Showed Up Consistently
I committed to BNI, Chamber events, and professional mixers.
But here’s the key: I didn’t just attend—I showed up with a purpose.
I had a plan of who I wanted to meet, how I could help them, and I followed up religiously.
✔ On my calendar: Every Thursday at 7 AM (BNI); 1 Chamber event per month scheduled 30 days out.
5. Created a Personal Invitation System & Reflected Weekly
I became the inviter, not the attendee.
I personally reached out to people and invited them to events, to the podcast, or to meet others.
And every Sunday evening, I spent 30 minutes reviewing my network:
Who did I connect with?
Who did I forget to follow up with?
Who needs a quick ‘thinking of you’ message?
This intentional reflection made my networking proactive, not reactive.
✔ On my calendar: Friday afternoons reserved for outreach and personal invites; Sunday, 7 PM – Networking reflection and CRM update.