The 10-Minute Networking System: How to Create Real Connections Fast Part 2

If networking events drain you, it’s usually because you’re doing one of two things

• talking to the wrong people too long, or

• trying to “be impressive” instead of being present.

Let’s make this easy.

Here’s a simple structure I teach to turn small talk into real connection in about 10 minutes without being pushy.

The 4-part conversation flow (10 minutes total)

1) Context (2 minutes):
“What brought you here?”
“What are you working on right now?”

2) Clarity (3 minutes):
“What’s your main focus for the next 90 days?”
“What’s the biggest challenge you’re solving?”

3) Connection (3 minutes):
If you can help: “I might have a resource/person that could support that.”
If you can’t: “That’s powerful—who do you need to meet to move that forward?”

4) Next Step (2 minutes):
“Let’s not leave this in the room, want to Find 15 to 30 minutes next week to jump on the call and continue this conversation?”
(Then schedule it immediately.)

That last line matters because most people leave the relationship behind.

The “No-Pitch” positioning line

When they ask what you do, keep it clean:

Here is an example,

“I help mission-driven business owners turn relationships into a real growth engine, so they stop grinding, and start Implementing simple automated systems 10 to 15 hours per week, increasing cash flow, and start building real enterprise value into their business.”

Then ask:
“What kind of growth are you most focused on right now, revenue, referrals, or systematizing your business?”

Now you’re guiding a real conversation not pitching.

The follow-up trigger: when to exchange info

Only exchange contact info when you have:

• a clear follow-up reason

• a clear introduction to make,

• a clear resource to share

Otherwise, you’re collecting cards, not building relationships.

Here is a great 3 Notes rule (so you remember people)

Right after the conversation write down 3 quick notes:

• Who are they and what do they do

• What they’re building or what their business does

• The next step you promised

This single habit will make you stand out more than any pitch. My personal recommendation is to find at least one challenge they currently have in their business and then send them either a YouTube clip, an article, or a book that talks about something that can help solve their challenge.

In Part 3, I’ll show you how to follow up in a way that actually gets replies—plus how to turn networking into a referral engine instead of a one-off event.