My First Networking Event

Hey guys,

I’m back again, and this time, I'm switching gears: networking—what it’s taught me, why I continue to do it, what to look for (in my opinion), and how it’s helped.

So, I’ll be honest. My first networking event was online. I was still feeling pretty rubbish about not having a client yet, and I wasn’t feeling very confident dealing with people in person. It was an hour-long event where business owners came together for a kind of lunch social.

The thing about self-employment is that it’s really isolating, especially when you’re in the house all the time, racked with guilt because you expected to hit at least one client by now. At this point, any advice is good advice — that was my mentality.

But to be honest, although I’m glad I did it, it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for.

Now I get it: as a business owner, you’ve given up a 9–5 to pursue a 24/7 role, and lunch is important! For where I was at, I used it as an opportunity to ask for advice when I could. Luckily, I had interactions with different business owners who had either just started or been pioneers in their field — people who used this event as a chance to decompress.

Looking back, I don’t really class that as my first networking event. It was more like a taste of the world of like-minded people who had had enough of the system and chose to make it on their own. There were people on that Zoom call who really helped with website advice (more on that in a later blog), shared mistakes they’d made, and gave guidance for what could be next for me.

My First Real Networking Event

A week later, I attended my first real in-person networking event. I was still in a funk, didn’t know what to wear, and had no clue how to get into a confident state of mind — but I just went for it.

It was at The Forest Ground. Over 150 businesses attended — people from all walks of life, coming together to have a drink and talk business (and a little nonsense once the drinks started flowing). I stuck to water, sat in a corner, took three deep breaths, and boom — I was off.

There were people just like me: some liked my business idea, some didn’t; some gave me new ideas; others were there just to chat and have a laugh on a Thursday evening.

Here are the lessons I learned:

Key Takeaways

1. No one really knows what they’re doing.

Yep! Even people with multiple successful businesses start at the same point or return to the “I have no clue” stage. It’s reassuring to know that success relies on three things: a dream/goal, support, and hard work.

2. Getting out there helps when you’re doubting yourself.

I went to that event with the goal of getting out of my head. Wrapping yourself in guilt will not help — those are the times you actually need support. I was vulnerable and honest at the event, introducing myself as "Hi, my name is Theano, nickname Nano, running The Contractor’s Admin. It’s only three months old — what’s your advice for someone in my position?”

Most people I spoke with hadn’t started networking until six months in. They praised my bravery, gave advice on my website, suggested other events, exchanged LinkedIn profiles, and made genuine connections I hadn’t expected.

3. The first one is the hardest.

Once one event is done, the next becomes easier, and you’ll find your little tribe. Not every event is the same — some people go to socialise, some are active networkers, and others (like me) are just warming up. Take your time; you don’t have to attend all of them all.

4. Free events are valuable.

As a small business owner, keeping overheads low is essential. I chose free events, and I still gained so much from them.

Everyone is generally open to giving advice, but networking doesn’t have to be just about business. Think of it as an opportunity to spend time with people who get it — no hard sell, no comparison, just support and valuable connections.

Okay guys, with that said, the next blog will focus a little on the practicalities of setting up my business: logistics, lessons learned, and a few tips if you’re interested in doing this for yourself!