The people around you can lift you up or pull you down. Choosing your people wisely is one of the most important keys to success. Sometimes you don’t have a choice when it comes to families or co-workers, but when you do have a choice, choose wisely. Energy is contagious. When you are around negative, low, or dark energy, it’s more of a fight to stay positive on the path you want to be on. Choose to spend your time with uplifting people who see the bright side. Did you know according to PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) that optimism leads to exceptional longevity?

How can you find your fellow optimists? Here are three keys to creating amazing business connections.

“Surround yourself with positive people who believe in your dreams, encourage your ideas, support your ambitions, and bring out the best in you.” Roy Bennett

Fun Networking

Have you ever tried networking groups? Networking in the traditional sense can be painful. You walk into a room and within a few minutes, you are pitched multiple times. It seems like no one is listening and everyone is talking. And they are not talking normally, they are speaking in commercial form. After a few of these, you might be saying “no thank you”. So, how do you meet new business people who have a mighty vision, are super positive, and successful? After a year of pandemic social limitations, I wrote on my bucket list that I wanted to join a network of powerful, happy, friendly, and fun businesswomen. Within three weeks, I met and interviewed the terrific Halle Eavelyn on my podcast, and she asked me if I had heard of the Dames. I had not. Soon after, I met the hilarious, successful, and smart Meghann Conter, the leader of the Dames.

I was hooked from the very first Zoom. I found close friends, podcast guests, business partners, and business support. I found people who were genuinely happy for my success and a group of people who were not focused on being competitive with each other. With many opportunities each month for Happier Hours, B2B Connect Hours, B2C Connect Hours, Training, Extravaganzas and more, I had a place to be around upbeat women if I wanted, each week.

“Surround yourself with the dreamers, and the doers, the believers, and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” Edmund Lee

Coworking

If you are a small business owner and work from your home, you may want to consider coworking. Coworking spaces are popping up all over offering luxurious spaces at a decent price. If you are looking for motivation, flexibility, networking, community, and getting out of your home office, coworking might be a fun choice. One of the differences in coworking compared to traditional office space is that you don’t sign a long-term lease. You also get more than space, each coworking option usually has amenities like wifi, printing, coffee, and more. If you have been working out of a coffee shop, coworking will give you a more professional environment.

“Prior to the pandemic, co-working spaces were the fastest-growing type of office space in commercial real estate. While they currently comprise less than 5% of the market, they’re expected to make up 30% by 2030” (CNBC)

According to DeskMag, The average monthly price for a dedicated desk in the U.S. is $387 The average monthly cost for a hot desk is $195. The average cost of a day pass is $23.

Social Groups

Social media has been a hot place for marketing businesses for a long time now, but rather than just posting on your pages or profiles, or buying ads; getting involved in groups and/or starting your own groups is a powerful way to deepen connections. In my business, I host a free Your Path to Success Facebook group, and Facebook groups dedicated to two of my Coaching Groups. I am a member of several FB and LinkedIn groups, some are very active and some are not. When you find a group that is a sweet spot for you, you have landed on a goldmine. You’ll meet and interact with people with common interests and make the connections that you crave for business and your personal life. If you like reading fiction books, Susie McMahon of Luxe Low Country Travel runs a Virtual Book Club that is very successful and fun. Plus she is hosting a Literary Tour based on one of the authors. Bonnie Gortler, Wealth and Well-Being Coach hosts a Facebook group dedicated to helping you grow your investments in the stock market with valuable information and insights based on her over 35 years in the stock market.

If you decide to start your own group on Facebook or LinkedIn, you’ll want to put some thought into it. According to Susie Ryan of Smarterqueue, you will want to think about the purpose, an exciting title, promoting, creating interactions, high-quality consistent content, and more.

If you decide to join a networking group, coworking, and/or social groups; you get out what you put into them. It is better to be a part of fewer, yet higher quality experiences. And decide to be active and participate with genuine contributions. Be a giver first. Avoid overly self-promoting.

“People inspire you, or they drain you – pick them wisely.” Hans F. Hansen

If you liked this, you might just love my Inner Circle for client attraction or my Inspire Group for scaling your biz.