You are more than a label, more than a job title. You are more than what you do. Yet our networking introductions frequently concentrate on the label, on what we do, on the business side of who we are. But we are so much more than our work persona.
In our March introduction rounds we are asking you to tell us to tell us something about you or your business that we don’t already know. Don’t be too quick to write yourself off as boring. There’s a lot about you that others will find interesting.
What’s your origin story?
Where you started is more interesting than where you are now. I know that sounds counterintuitive. We spend so much time focused on what we’re doing right now. But people connect with the journey, not the destination. Your origin story—where you came from, how you got here—that’s what makes you memorable.
For example. I started my career in management with Marks and Spencer. And in the first ten years, I moved nine times. I went from Bristol to Newbury, then up to Yorkshire and Lancashire. I was what you might call the rolling stone that gathered no moss. Every time I moved to a new location, I had to walk into a room full of complete strangers and figure out how to talk to people I didn’t know. I had to build relationships from scratch. And honestly, there were times when it was extremely challenging, especially in my early twenties. But looking back, that was the best preparation I could have possibly had for what I do now. Because networking, at its core, is exactly that—walking into a room full of strangers and learning how to connect with them.
Your first job, your early career, where you came from are the things that shaped who you are. They’re also the things that make you different from everyone else in your field. Most people didn’t take the same path to get where you are. Your route was unique to you. So think back over your early career for a moment. Was there something in it that set the direction for where you are now? Was there a mentor who influenced you? A challenge that taught you something crucial? A decision that changed everything? What’s one early experience that actually changed the direction of your career? That’s your first potential story.
Share a success story
Somewhere there’s a project, a client win, or a piece of work you did that you still think about. Maybe it was months ago, maybe it was years ago, but it’s still there in your mind. That’s what you should be talking about.
According to Harvard Business School, people are eighty percent more likely to remember you if you share a specific achievement rather than a generic job description. When you talk about something you accomplished, something concrete and real, it sticks in people’s minds. A job title is forgettable. A story about something you built or solved or created? That’s unforgettable.
I had a friend who saw a tender opportunity to deliver a day’s business training to European Executive Assistants in Milan. She was going up against some of the leading business schools in the UK. Big names with established reputations. But she put in a bid anyway and won it. When she talks about that win, you can hear the pride in her voice. You can see it on her face. And people remember her for it. They remember her as someone who can compete at that level, and can deliver at that standard. Think back over your success stories. What fills you with pride? What created new opportunities? What led to public recognition? That’s a second potential story.
What lights your fire?
You are not one dimensional. There is more to you than your work. We’re interested in the whole person.
You have hobbies, interests, and skills that have nothing to do with your job. And those are often the most interesting things about you. One of our members in Ealing loves hot air ballooning. Another does Viking re-enactments. Someone else in the network loves heading off in her motorhome to explore home and abroad. Another person plays netball on a regular basis. And these things? They’re not just hobbies they’re conversation topics. Maybe they are the things we have in common.
The things you do outside of work say something important about who you are as a person. If you’re into rock climbing, that tells me something about your courage and your willingness to take risks. If you’re learning to paint, then you are probably creative with a commitment to growth. If you run marathons, that tells me something about your discipline and your determination. These things show character. They show passion. They make you three-dimensional instead of just a job title on a business card.
List five things you enjoy doing outside of work. It could be anything. A sport you play. A hobby you’re into. Something you’re learning. Something you’re absolutely obsessed with. Now look at that list. Which one would surprise people? Which one would make them say, “Oh, I didn’t expect that about you.” Which one would be most likely to connect you to other people in the room? Because that’s the one worth mentioning. That’s the one that will make people remember you.
Who or what else do you care about?
Sometimes the most interesting thing about you is what you care about outside of yourself. Your family. Your values. What drives you. What matters to you most. I’ve seen people connect over their love of dogs. Or cats. Or even their children. One person in my network discovered that my husband was a City-based lawyer, and she asked if he knew a patent or trademark lawyer. She’d been looking for someone for quite a while. He was happy to help. That connection came from knowing that my husband was a lawyer, which she only knew because I’d mentioned it in passing.
Studies show that people connect more deeply when you share something personal and genuine. In fact, vulnerability in professional settings increases trust by up to forty percent according to research on professional relationships. When you let people see who you really are, not just the polished professional version, something shifts. People want to help you. They want to refer you. They want to do business with you. The personal stuff is what makes networking work.
Think about what matters to you most and that you are happy to share. Is it your family? Your kids? A cause you care about? A value you live by? That’s worth mentioning. It humanises you. It gives people a reason to connect with you beyond business. It makes you real.
What will you share?
Now you’ve got options.,, your origin story, a piece of work you’re proud of, a hobby or interest. You’ve got something personal about you. But how do you pick the right one?
The best introduction is the one that’s true, unexpected, and relevant to who you are now. It should answer this question: What about me would surprise someone? What would make them lean in and listen? What will make people who already know me see me in a different light? Because the goal here isn’t to tell them everything. It’s to give them a reason to want to know more.
What will you choose? Your origin story. Your proud achievement. Your hobby. Your personal side. Pick the one that feels most genuine. The one that, when you say it out loud, makes you feel proud or excited or even a little vulnerable. That’s the one that will resonate. That’s the one that will stick with people.
I know from years of hosting networking events that the most memorable people aren’t the ones with the biggest titles or most impressive job descriptions. They’re the ones who are real. Who share something genuine. Who give people a reason to remember them as a person, not just a business card. When people understand the human behind the business they want to support you.
Prepare for our March meetings
Your introduction will be more effective if you put some thought into it. Draw on the ideas here or one of your own. Pick one. Just one. And then practice saying it out loud three times so it feels natural. Not rehearsed. Not stiff. Natural. The way you’d tell a friend. Go on and surprise us.
I look forward to hearing your story.
