Recently, I saw a lightning‑rod comment on LinkedIn that stopped me in my tracks: “Networking is broken. It’s become a social club where showing up earns you a gold star — in a room full of procrastinators who are afraid to sell.”
And honestly?
She’s right.
Too many business owners believe that simply showing up in a networking room will magically produce clients. If you’re feeling a cringe in your gut and thinking, “Christine is coming in hot today…” — stay with me.
Because I want you to win with networking. But right now, far too many entrepreneurs are stuck in endless meetings that lead nowhere.
Why Most Networking Isn’t Working
Networking can be one of the fastest paths to new collaborations, visibility, and client opportunities. But let’s get brutally honest about something most people avoid saying:
Networking is an income‑producing activity.
If it isn’t generating leads, it’s broken. And broken networking leads straight to burnout.
Before you attend another meeting, ask yourself:
- Am I busy, or am I productive?
- Are these rooms helping me grow — or keeping me trapped?
Because too many networking groups today have become procrastination playgrounds filled with people who:
- Aren’t seeing real client volume
- Can’t make decisions
- Are broke — and think “showing up” is enough
That is dangerous for your business.
The Annual Networking Audit: Your 4 Essential Questions
Every year, I audit the rooms I’m in and ask myself four critical questions:
1. Is this activity income‑producing?
If the answer is no, it’s not networking — it’s avoidance.
2. Am I seeing consistent lead flow?
If the room isn’t feeding your pipeline, it’s costing you money.
3. Am I contributing meaningfully to this community?
Visibility without value doesn’t convert.
4. Am I maximizing my visibility for the money I’m spending?
If you’re paying to be in the room, the room should pay you back.
Why I Don’t Spend Time in Free Networking Spaces
I can hear you now: “Wait… wait… wait. What?”
Here’s the truth:
I do not spend time in free networking spaces.
Why?
Because:
- My services are not free.
- My clients are not people hunting for free.
- Free rooms attract people who are not buyers.
Free rooms are filled with spectators. Paid rooms are filled with buyers — people who invest in access, opportunity, and growth.
That’s where I choose to be.
Paid Rooms Produce Better Results
When you invest in the right rooms, you surround yourself with:
- Decision‑makers
- Action‑takers
- People who value time
- People who invest in solutions
- People who are actively growing
These are the people who make introductions, create opportunities, and move quickly.
If I’m in the wrong room?
I exit. And so should you.
Your Next Step
If your networking isn’t producing leads, clients, or opportunities, it’s time for your annual audit.
- Evaluate the rooms you’re in
- Leave the ones that drain you
- Reinforce the ones that produce
- Invest in rooms filled with buyers
- Treat networking like the income‑producing activity it is
Your time is too valuable to waste in rooms that don’t move your business forward.
Your Business Mentor,
Christine Campbell Rapin
