You Collected the Business Cards… Now What?

You went to the networking event. 

You shook hands.

You exchanged cards.

You had some great conversations.

Then what happened?

If you’re like many professionals, those business cards eventually end up:

• stacked on your desk
• buried in a drawer
• sitting in your car
• or forgotten entirely after the excitement of the event fades.

But here’s the truth:

Networking events are not where relationships are built.
They’re where relationships BEGIN.

The real value comes from what you do after the event.

Years ago, people brought home stacks of business cards. Today, many people leave networking events with LinkedIn connections, QR scans, or contacts saved in their phone, but the challenge remains the same:

How do you turn a brief introduction into a meaningful professional relationship?

Here are 8 smart ways to follow up after a networking event using LinkedIn and intentional relationship-building.

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1. Connect Promptly on LinkedIn

Don’t wait three weeks. Connect within 24–48 hours while the conversation is still fresh. And please, don’t use the generic LinkedIn connection request. Personalize it.

Mention:

• where you met
• what you discussed
• or something memorable from the conversation

Example:

“Great meeting you at the Hartford Springfield networking event. I enjoyed our conversation about leadership training and wanted to stay connected.”

That small effort instantly makes you more memorable.

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2. Review Their Profile Before Reaching Out Again

Most people connect and move on.

Instead, take a few minutes to:

• review their experience
• understand their business
• notice shared interests or connections
• identify opportunities to help or collaborate

Networking works best when it becomes relationship-focused instead of transaction-focused.

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3. Look for Ways to Provide Value First

One of the best networking questions you can ask yourself is:

“How can I help this person?”

Can you:

• introduce them to someone?
• recommend a resource?
• share one of their posts?
• invite them to an event?
• refer a potential client?

The professionals who become memorable are usually the ones who contribute value first.

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4. Engage With Their Content

If they post on LinkedIn:

• comment thoughtfully
• support their content
• congratulate achievements
• stay visible in a genuine way

Consistent visibility helps relationships grow naturally over time.

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5. Invite Them Into Your Professional Community

Do you host:

• events?
• workshops?
• webinars?
• networking gatherings?
• mastermind groups?
• a blog or podcast?

Invite them into your ecosystem when appropriate. One of the most valuable things you can do professionally is create spaces where people can continue building relationships.

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6. Schedule a One-on-One Conversation

Some connections deserve more than online interaction. Invite them for:

• coffee
• a Zoom conversation
• breakfast
• a quick phone call

Not with the goal of “selling," but with the goal of learning more about each other professionally. The best business relationships often begin with simple conversations.

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7. Become Known as a Connector

One of the fastest ways to build influence professionally is to connect good people with other good people. When you hear:

“You should meet…”

and then actually make the introduction? People remember that. Strong professional communities are built through generosity and thoughtful introductions.

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8. Don’t Let the Relationship Die After One Interaction

This is where most networking efforts fail. Relationships grow through:

• consistency
• visibility
• contribution
• and genuine interest over time

The people who build the strongest professional networks are rarely the loudest people in the room. They’re usually the people who stay connected intentionally.

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Networking isn’t really about collecting contacts. It’s about creating relationships, opportunities, collaborations, and trust over time. The business card, or LinkedIn connection, is simply the beginning.

 

This blog post was created by John P. Slosek Jr., “The Insurance Coach.®”  May 13, 2026
The Insurance Coach Radio Show can be heard every Saturday morning  www.classichits977.com ,or at 97.7 FM on the radio dial, or on 1250 AM.

How Football Change My Life.
It is hard to believe that it has been 14 years since I posted on this Blog. There is a story behind it and I will share that story at another time. I am going to take you back 60 years ago to an 8-year-old pudgy boy who couldn’t run fast but could catch a football very well. That boy is me. I found out they were having try-outs for little league football (Pop Warner). I signed up to join the team, and it was an uphill battle from that point forward. The head coach did not like me from the very start. He threw many comments at me about my weight, my speed and overall talent. Thank goodness for his two assistant coaches that put belief in me practice after practice. They helped me to become mentally strong and motivated me to lose weight, workout and stay strong. I found that football is kind of like life, sometimes the setbacks will occur, but you have to overcome them . I ended up playing for 11 years up to College. I hope the following lessons I took away from my years in football might help someone who is facing life battles right now.

Lesson 1: Always Be Ready — Anticipate, Don’t React.
Football taught me that preparation matters. The players who succeed are often the ones who prepare before the play even begins. They study, anticipate, recognize formations, and think ahead. Life works the same way. Too many people spend their lives reacting to problems instead of preparing for opportunities and challenges before they arrive. Football taught me to stay alert, stay prepared, and think ahead.

Lesson 2: You Always Have What It Takes — But It Will Always Take Everything You’ve Got.
One of the toughest truths football teaches is this:
You are capable of more than you think… but success still requires everything you have. There are moments when your body is exhausted, your mind is tired, and quitting seems easier. But football teaches you how to dig deeper.
Life will test all of us eventually. Football taught me that strength often shows up when you think you have nothing left.

Lesson 3: Your Character Is More Important Than How Good You Are.
Talent may get attention. Character earns trust. Football taught me that people remember how you treat others far longer than they remember statistics or accomplishments. Integrity, honesty, effort, loyalty, and accountability matter both on and off the field.

Lesson 4: You Play How You Practice.
This lesson may be one of the most important of all. Success on game day starts long before the game begins. Football taught me that preparation creates confidence. Lazy preparation usually creates poor results. Discipline behind the scenes often determines performance in front of the crowd. Life works the same way.

Lesson 5: Believe In Yourself.
Football teaches confidence under pressure. You must have the inner belief in yourself that you can accomplish or achieve anything you set out for. For me, thank goodness, I had those two assistant coaches that believed in me. There are moments when nobody else may believe in you. In those moments, your own belief matters most. Confidence is not arrogance. It is trusting your preparation, your effort, and your ability to keep going when things get difficult.

As the years pass, I’ve come to realize football was never simply a sport to me. It was a classroom. A training ground. A teacher of life lessons. The game taught me discipline, humility, perseverance, communication, sacrifice, teamwork, and belief. And while not everyone will play football, everyone will face challenges, setbacks, victories, disappointments, and opportunities in life. My hope is that maybe one or two of these lessons can help point someone in a better direction, encourage someone through a difficult season, or inspire someone to keep pushing forward when life gets hard. Because sometimes the greatest lessons we ever learn are not about the game itself…They’re about how we choose to live after the game is over.

Welcoming Our Newest Contributor to our Blog

 

Please join me in welcoming Mary-Anne Schelb, HHP, to the Movers ’N Shakers Blog writing team!

Mary-Anne is a holistic consultant and founder of IntentionalCalm.com, where she helps people create healthier, calmer, and more intentional lives through holistic wellness and personal growth.

One of the things I’ve always loved most about the Movers ’N Shakers Blog is the diversity of voices and perspectives shared by professionals from many different backgrounds and industries. The goal has never simply been “business content.” It has been real people sharing real experiences, practical wisdom, and ideas that help others grow personally and professionally.

We’re excited to have Mary-Anne bringing her perspective and expertise to the platform.

The blog now contains nearly 600 posts and continues to reach hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of readers each month.

Welcome aboard, Mary-Anne!

👉 Interested in contributing? We’re always looking for thoughtful professionals who would like to share insights, experiences, and ideas with our growing community of readers and professionals.

Why Experts Never Get Invited Back on TV, Radio, or Podcasts

Media Training Tips for Speakers, Authors, Coaches, and Industry Experts

Every week, television producers, podcast hosts, radio bookers, and online media coordinators search for experts who can help them create interesting, timely content.

And every week, some professionals unknowingly destroy their chances of ever being invited back.

The surprising part?

It usually has very little to do with talent.

Most media producers are not searching for the “most famous” person in town. They’re searching for reliable people who make their jobs easier.

People who respond quickly.
People who show up prepared.
People who understand that media moves fast and flexibility matters.

If you want more visibility, more credibility, and more opportunities to grow your brand through interviews and media appearances, understanding how producers think is essential.

Unfortunately, some aspiring experts do the exact opposite.

So, in the spirit of helping future guests avoid becoming unforgettable for the wrong reasons, here are a few excellent ways to guarantee you never get invited back on TV, radio, podcasts, or online media interviews.

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1. Never Watch Local Media or Industry Shows

If you’re hoping to get media attention, definitely avoid researching the programs you want to appear on.

Don’t watch local television segments.
Don’t listen to regional radio shows.
Don’t follow relevant podcasts in your industry.

That way, you’ll never understand:

• the audience,
• the tone,
• the format,
• or the kinds of guests they actually feature.

Nothing impresses a producer more than someone pitching themselves blindly without the slightest understanding of the show.

---

2. Send Generic Pitches That Sound Like Everyone Else

Producers receive countless emails every week from people calling themselves experts, coaches, authors, consultants, or influencers.

So naturally, the best strategy is to send a vague email saying:

“I’d love to come on your show sometime.”

No topic ideas.
No timely angle.
No audience value.

Just confidence.

Meanwhile, the guests who actually get booked are often the ones sending short, useful pitches with:

• timely story ideas,
• audience-focused insights,
• and clear talking points.

The easier you make a producer’s job, the more likely they are to remember you.

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3. Respond Slowly to Opportunities

Media moves fast.

Sometimes very fast.

A producer may need a guest:

• that afternoon,
• early the next morning,
• or within the next hour for breaking commentary.

So if someone reaches out about an interview opportunity, wait three days before replying.

Or better yet, respond with:

“Sorry, I’ve been super busy.”

Nothing says “future repeat guest” like becoming harder to schedule than a celebrity on a world tour.

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4. Treat Media Appearances Like an Inconvenience

Many first-time guests are surprised by how unpredictable media can be.

Segments get bumped.
Schedules change.
Breaking news happens.
Interviews move.
Podcast recordings get rescheduled.

That’s normal.

But if you really want to ruin your reputation, make sure the producer knows exactly how inconvenienced you were.

After all, nothing improves a working relationship like complaining to an exhausted producer who has already been awake since 4:30 AM.

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5. Expect the Media to Promote You for Free

One of the biggest mistakes experts make is forgetting why media outlets exist in the first place.

Their job is not to advertise your business.

Their job is to create content that informs, entertains, or engages their audience.

The guests who get invited back understand this.

They focus on:

• helping viewers,
• educating listeners,
• simplifying complex ideas,
• and delivering value first.

Ironically, those are usually the people who end up getting the most business afterward.

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6. Disappear After the Interview

You finally land the interview.

The segment goes well.
The host likes you.
The producer made time for you.

Perfect.

Now disappear completely.

Don’t send a thank-you note.
Don’t offer future topic ideas.
Don’t stay connected.
Don’t help them again.

Meanwhile, smart media guests understand something important:

Producers are constantly under pressure to find reliable contributors.

If you become someone who consistently helps them solve problems, you stop being “just another guest” and start becoming a trusted resource.

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7. Refuse to Help Unless You Benefit Directly

Sometimes a producer may contact you about a topic that’s close to your expertise but not exactly your specialty.

This is your chance to either:

• strengthen the relationship,
• or quietly end it.

The professionals who build long-term media relationships often recommend other qualified experts when they aren’t the perfect fit.

Why?

Because helpful people get remembered.

And producers never forget the people who make their lives easier.

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What Producers REALLY Want from Guests

After years of working with speakers, authors, business owners, and industry experts, I’ve noticed something important:

The people who get the most media opportunities are rarely the most self-promotional.

They’re usually the most dependable.

They:

• respond quickly,
• stay flexible,
• communicate professionally,
• understand deadlines,
• and consistently deliver value to the audience.

In other words, they reduce stress instead of creating it.

That’s what gets you invited back.

Not ego.
Not hype.
Not a flashy bio.

Reliability.

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Final Thoughts

Television producers, podcast hosts, radio bookers, and media coordinators all face the same challenge every day:

They need great content under constant deadlines.

If you become someone who helps them succeed, you’ll stand out quickly in a world full of difficult guests and forgettable pitches.

And if you become known as the easiest expert to work with?

You may discover that media opportunities start finding you.

Want to Get Published and Build Your Visibility?

What started as a simple idea—giving local professionals a place to share their thoughts—has grown into a blog with 500+ posts and nearly 700 hundred daily readers.

And now, I’m opening the door again.

The Movers & Shakers Blog is looking for new contributors.

Not professional writers.
Not full-time bloggers.

👉 Just professionals with ideas worth sharing.

If you:

• Work with people
• Solve problems
• Have lessons, insights, or experiences

Then you already have what it takes to contribute.

Here’s how it works:
You claim one day per month.
You publish one short post.
That’s it.

No pressure. No perfection. Just your voice, your perspective, and your experience.

This is a chance to:
✔ Get published
✔ Build your visibility
✔ Share your expertise
✔ Be part of a growing professional community

And here’s the truth…

Some of the best posts on this blog didn’t come from “writers.”
They came from people who simply had something to say.

If you’ve ever thought:

“I wouldn’t even know what to write…”

That’s exactly why you should do it.

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If you’re interested in joining us as a business-field contributor, send me a message or comment below or email me at billcorbett@yahoo.com

Let’s keep building something that helps all of us grow.

— Bill

Avoiding the Most Embarrassing Mistake as a Public Speaker

Speakers are exposed to some of the most uncomfortable and sometimes harrowing experiences.  Some of these experiences range from just annoying to the most frightening!  And why do we speakers allow ourselves to be subjected to such nightmares: because we care about our work, our performance and our clients.  We put everything we have into our content and our presentation.

Hearing about other speakers’ nightmare experiences (or seeing for ourselves) can be valuable learning lessons for the rest of us.  Case in point; I sat in a speaker’s presentation one time and learned a valuable lesson that I will remember forever.  The speaker wore white pants and a print shirt, and he moved actively about the room.

Unfortunately for this speaker, he had a horrible stain on his pants and everyone could see it… except for him.  All of the audience was now focused on the awful stain and not his message.  I felt so uncomfortable that I nearly left the presentation.  What I learned from that incident was to always check, re-check and double check my appearance, and don’t wear white pants!

I compiled this eBook so that others could learn from the mistakes, mishaps and unfortunate instances

experienced by some of the top speakers in the industry.  Although some of what you are about to read could not have been avoided, many of the stories will help you prepare for the next time you are the speaker.

What follows is an entry from the ebook I compiled, "Speakers' Worst Nightmares," a compilation of the nightmares submitted by speakers who answered my call for stories from some of the top speakers in various industries. It's my own contribution to the ebook and an actual experience I had that affected me for a long time and taught me some very critical lessons. To download a copy of the ebook containing all of the harrowing experiences, click this link.

How Workplace Hostility Pushed Me Toward Success

This post is going to deviate from my usual topics that I write about, so I hope my regular readers will bear with me. It's a post you may want to read if you've accepted the wrong job offer. While working on my autobiography, I remembered an excruciating experience as a twenty-something new to the workforce, following my military service. It was an experience that many would have trouble believing, or at the very least, would certainly hope that it couldn't happen in today's workforce. Then I remembered my friend and author, Jeff Davis, who recently released his book THE COURAGE TO LEAVE: BREAKING FREE FROM TOXIC WORKPLACES. I thought to myself, I need to tell him that I've got a doozy for him for his next edition. Believe it or not, here's what took place.

One of my first jobs after my tour in the service was working in the IT department at a 100-year-old company. It was located in a mid-sized city in New England, and I had been hired into an entry-level position in an all-female department. After my first couple of weeks, the atmosphere started to change. I began to feel very unwelcome at work and couldn't help but notice that everyone was acting unfriendly to me. Based on conversations I overheard, it became apparent that men were not liked. As a result, I kept a low profile and focused entirely on learning my job. Even though most members of the team were married to men, comments were constantly made that were degrading in nature to men.

After the first six months of employment, it was apparent to me that I had made a mistake taking this
job. It reached the point where I hated coming to work each day and had to contend with constant scolding and negative remarks from my supervisor. And when I made a mistake or caused an error in my work, I figuratively had to duck for cover! She would scold and berate me and yell. Sometimes she would even say, "You'll never amount to anything." After spending six years getting yelled at first in boot camp and then in the Air Force, I grew accustomed to this kind of treatment. But I never realized I would experience this kind of workplace abuse in the civilian world.

HOW TO ATTRACT CLIENTS WITHOUT COLD CALLING

I knew the way I was being treated wasn't right, but I just kept to myself and did the best I could. Then one Friday, she took great joy in exercising her power. It was the Friday before I was to begin a week's vacation with my wife and kids. We had a week-long reservation starting that Saturday night at a campground up north. At around 4 p.m., I walked into the room where she was sitting, gabbing with all the rest of the team. As I approached the time clock to punch out, she informed me that she was revoking my vacation request, stating it was because the department was short-staffed for the upcoming week. She said she expected me to be at work on Monday morning. As I left the room, I was in disbelief as I overheard her telling the group that she felt good doing her part to keep men from getting what they wanted.

The following week, back at work instead of off on vacation with my young family, I booked an appointment with the president of the company. The president was a man, and I thought I might get some support from him after revealing how I was being treated. What I did not know at the time was that he was good friends with my supervisor, and he would dismiss any of my complaints.

So he listened quietly as I related what was happening, and at the conclusion of our meeting, he suggested that perhaps I was just a bit too sensitive to work on that team. He then pleasantly thanked me for my time and walked me to the door, telling me to see him anytime and that his door was always open. I thought that was the end until two weeks later, when my boss scolded me for taking my complaint to the president. She warned me never to do that again or there would be consequences.

A friend told me that what I was experiencing was discrimination and that it might be against the law. He suggested that I consult a lawyer to determine if I had a case against my employer. The lawyer I called seemed very intrigued by my situation and invited me to meet him for dinner at a restaurant for the free initial consultation. I was excited over his level of interest and couldn't wait to meet with him. I may finally have some leverage in getting some relief from an awful work situation that I couldn't stand. So at dinner, I related to him all of the incidents of the mistreatment by my supervisor, the frequent anti-male comments from female team members, and even my meeting with the president. I was ready for some recourse!

HOW TO BECOME THE GO-TO EXPERT IN YOUR INDUSTRY TODAY

After sitting quietly and taking lots of notes, he closed his portfolio and cleared his throat. My stomach
dropped when he said, "I have bad news for you. It's 1982, and discrimination suits filed by men are rare and typically unsuccessful. He said, "Trust me, you do not want to see your name on the front page of the newspaper, going up against an established 100-year-old company." He told me that even though my situation had all the hallmarks of a discrimination case, I would lose. He advised me to forget about it and told me to go find another job. I drove home feeling complete despair.

I went back to work and quietly began seeking other employment. The lawyer's advice paid off, and I landed a terrific job paying almost three times what I was making at the other company. After my first year, I knew my career was off to a great start, as I was promoted to a junior leadership position. The company posted a press release about my promotion in the area's largest newspaper. I clipped it out and sent it in an envelope to my former supervisor, along with a note stating that I DID finally amount to something. I also thanked her for showing me how NOT to treat staff when you want them to perform at their best.

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Bill Corbett is an accomplished author, speaker, and media producer whose career reflects both creativity and resilience. The author of eight books, including the best-selling From the Soapbox to the Stage: How to Use Your Passion to Get Paid to Speak, Bill has inspired audiences worldwide with lectures and classes on compassionate parenting and entrepreneurship. He has delivered international keynotes, including the opening address at a Dutch conference on behavior issues in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

In addition to writing, he produced and hosted a public access television show and founded his own publishing company, giving a platform to fresh voices and important conversations. Recognized for his excellence in communication and leadership, he earned the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation, Toastmasters International’s highest level of certification.

Blending professional achievement with a spirit of adventure, Bill Corbett even took home a demolition
derby victory many years ago—driving #94, a 1975 Buick LaSabre. His diverse experiences embody both passion and determination, leaving a lasting impression on every stage, page, and arena he enters. Learn more about his work at http://BillCorbett.com and Listen to his podcast Creating Cooperative Kids where ever you download your music.