As more opportunities open up this year to rekindle or build your business network, let’s focus on improving the questions and conversations you have with others. Your conversations are the perfect way to build stronger relationships to generate leads and opportunities. These conversations are not only with prospects but also with yourself.

Start by having a conversation with yourself, and about the value you bring to your client and the impact you have. Remember, it is expected that anyone in your industry can manage the transaction, but you can win the day when you demonstrate why you are unique and the way you solve a problem is the key. You want your clients to understand this value and why they should choose you. This is your opportunity!

Define your value proposition

Take time to really define why you are unique and the service provider or product of choice. Once you understand your value and why you…. you must get out from behind your screen, attend events and when possible, meet face to face. It is faster than any other method to build know, like and trust.

Create opportunities for conversations

Unless you want to be the best kept secret, you need to move out of your comfort zone and create opportunities to connect . For those that find conversations with new people a challenge, remember that networking is a life skill and as you are investing your time, you should be benefiting from making connections that enrich, energise and transform you, both personally and professionally. So-

Put away your phone and go talk to others.
Make appointments to meet up for a walk or organise a virtual coffee. You do not need to rely on lunches and cafes, although that would be nice!
Sometimes simply checking out who you are sitting or standing next too at the coffee shop or even at the local park with your child, can start a conversation with a neighbor or connection that can lead to the next best opportunity, right under your nose.

Learn the names of those around you (neighbours, baristas, retailers, business owners) and use them. Everyone loves to be greeted and these relationships, can be a window to experiences and knowledge that you may be lacking.

Embrace creativity and innovation

Entrepreneurship is inherently tied to creativity and innovation. Curiosity drives entrepreneurs to ask, "Why not think outside the box?" and explore unconventional solutions to problems. Along the entrepreneurial journey, individuals learn to tap into their creativity, to think critically, and to challenge the status quo. They discover the power of innovative thinking and the value of bringing fresh ideas to the table. This creativity not only fuels business growth but also enriches their personal lives, enabling them to approach challenges with a creative mindset.

Developing a Growth Mindset

Curiosity fuels a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Entrepreneurs who embrace curiosity understand that failures and setbacks are not indicative of their worth or potential. Instead, they view them as opportunities for learning and growth. The entrepreneurial journey teaches individuals to approach challenges with a growth mindset, asking themselves, "Why not see setbacks as stepping stones to success?" This mindset fosters a continuous desire to learn, improve, and expand their skills and knowledge.

Learning from Failure and Taking Calculated Risks

Failure is an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial journey. However, it is through failure that entrepreneurs often learn their most valuable lessons. Curiosity enables them to view failures as learning opportunities, asking themselves, "Why not extract valuable insights from this experience?" This mindset encourages entrepreneurs to reflect on their mistakes, analyze what went wrong, and apply those lessons to future endeavors. Along the way, they also develop the ability to take calculated risks, recognizing that innovation and growth often require stepping outside of their comfort zones.

Embrace resilience and adaptability

One of the most significant lessons entrepreneurs learn is the importance of resilience and adaptability. The road to success is rarely a smooth one, and challenges and setbacks are inevitable. However, by embracing a curious mindset, entrepreneurs develop the resilience to persevere through difficult times. They ask themselves, "Why not view setbacks as opportunities?" and learn to adapt their strategies in response to changing circumstances. This ability to bounce back and adapt becomes a valuable skill not only in business but also in navigating life's challenges.

Listen and learn from others

Attending events and hearing from speakers who willingly share their business journey can both inspire and encourage you to move forward.

One of the many memorable speakers we have had at our events was Jane Seymour, who along with her husband Neil established Mount Zero Olives in 1993. Jane shared their journey into establishing a business following following an unexpected redundancy. They fell in love with a derelict olive grove in the foothills of Mt Zero, adjacent to the Grampians National Park and over the past 30 years have the most of opportunities.

Mount Zero Olives is now an iconic brand, distributed nationally and to some of our Asian neighbors. Over the years they have diversified.

Jane’s journey has been full of challenges, finding new opportunities through necessity and eventually achieving success. It is a story of triumph over adversity. Of leaving a comfortable home in the city, a secure well-paid job and the closeness of family and friends and setting up home in a tin shed, with an outside dunny and a makeshift shower rigged up in rusty old tank. Of being hours away from the city and everything it has to offer and having to start from scratch, in an isolated, rugged environment. Of having to learn how to nurse the olive trees back to good health through long hours of backbreaking work. Of persevering through sweltering long summers and facing fire and drought. Of coming to respect and embrace the principles of biodynamic farming and learning to love the rugged beauty of the land in all its seasons. Of learning how to live sustainably and forging new relationships, including those with local indigenous people. Of forging a new path as a woman on the land with courage, bloody minded determination and resilience. Read more here

If you work in an organisation, put in the effort to interact at staff events, even online. Your internal network is a valuable resource and the insights others can share add value to you in improving customer experience, relationships and conversations. It shows you care, understand and want to help. Conversations with new connections can be awkward, but with practice, you can improve, listen more, and be able to dig deeper so that you can make a difference to your client and they will think of you as awesome!

If you are tired of attending traditional events or feel that zoom does not allow or enough conversation and connection, you are either attending the wrong event or having the wrong conversations. The events we run for our YTM business community provide a variety of formats offering you opportunity to :

test your value proposition and clearly articulate your uniqueness
be introduced and connected to a network of business professionals
tap into growth resources and learn from subject matter experts
and importantly, use your precious time wisely to build relationships, provide you with support you need , unearth opportunities and experience the growth and fulfillment you seek.

Hello Kerryn and Leigh Powell are the team behind, YTM. They have experienced the challenges you face, and know how important the right support, knowledge and strategies are for your business or organisation to grow. Technical knowledge is not enough.

Business owners and professionals need support, leads, knowledge and people who care.

They acknowledge that merely understanding, doesn’t make it easy, but it does make a difference to their members who access business networking events, workshops, strategy sessions and a supportive community designed with you in mind! Let’ have a conversation and discuss how YTM can assist you to grow your business. Book a time here .

7 ways to increase business opportunities