Why Networking, Consistency, and Time Management Are Non-Negotiables for Growth
Success in business, whether you’re building a startup, scaling a side hustle, or freelancing, doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s the result of three interconnected pillars: being ready to network at any moment, protecting your time with intention, and showing up consistently where your audience lives.
Let’s chat about it…
Networking: Unexpected Places
When you’re growing a business or side hustle, networking is essential. I mentioned this after attending the Samsung event in August, how it opened doors in that niche for my side hustle. While social media plays a huge role in networking (especially LinkedIn), nothing beats getting out and physically meeting people. It’s truly game-changing.
Unfortunately, my most recent networking opportunity came at the funeral of a very close family friend.
This family friend was a bowling coach, a mentor, and the owner of an extremely successful business. At the service, I met his son and grandson, who have taken over the business, and they introduced me to people in their community I’d never met before. It reminded me that networking opportunities can arise at the most unexpected times, which is why you should always be prepared.
Always carry a business card with you. Personally, I use an inexpensive NFC card from Amazon with a QR code sticker that links to a digital card. You can create one using Linktree, a page on your website, or what I do, a simple “/card” page with all my contact information. That way, no matter where you are or what’s happening, you’re ready to connect with new people.
Hours of Work: Structuring Your Productivity
When it comes to productivity, setting dedicated work hours is absolutely key. Whether it’s 7 to 3 , 9 to 5, or any other block of time, carve out that schedule and protect it. Without a set timeframe, you’ll find yourself all over the place, making it much harder to get things done.
That said, as entrepreneurs and freelancers, we do have the freedom to adjust our schedules as needed. But having a baseline schedule to work from makes all the difference in actually getting work done.
Using LinkedIn and Threads: Consistency is Key
Using LinkedIn and Threads as networking tools is crucial. I recently talked about changing up my strategy on Threads to post more consistently—the approach is simple: four short posts (just one or two sentences each), four times a day, seven days a week.
I’ve been doing this for two weeks now, and I’ve already seen a massive increase in engagement. This has also boosted my short-form tech videos, and that momentum has translated to LinkedIn, where I’m getting significantly more views.
It goes to show that consistency is key. The more quality content you post and the more value you provide, the more eyes you’ll attract—and the better you’ll be able to grow and network.
This Week's Quote
"The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work."
