A Challenge For You...

Reconnect and Reenergize

I have a challenge for you this week. I want you to reach out to ten people in your network you have not connected with in quite some time just to say hi, see how they’re doing, or ask what they have been up to.

I bet that once you get started, you won’t just stop this week. Instead, you’ll probably go on to challenge yourself to connect with ten people a week for ten weeks.

You’ll probably also drop me a note to say thanks.

Why am I so confident?

Because I accepted the challenge from my coach to do the same, it has been an incredible experience. 

We have been discussing how I could generate some referrals for my coaching business. Still, I was hesitant to reach out to people because I didn’t want people to think I was only connecting with them just because I wanted something.

So my coach challenged me to just start with the intention of just connecting for the sake of connecting. 

We all know the importance of building, cultivating, and maintaining a network. Yes, it can come in handy when you are in the midst of a job search, seeking referrals for various reasons, or simply wanting to share a recent event that reminded you of a shared experience years ago that made you think of them.

I have learned a great deal during the process. I still have much in common with the people who accepted my invitation for virtual coffee. All were glad I reached out and acknowledged that they needed to do a better job of staying connected and were now motivated to begin a similar process. 

The cool part was, in a few instances, they indicated my timing was perfect as they were dealing with or starting to think about a topic where I could help them. Not necessarily coach them but simply help them. My intention to connect brought positive energy into the world that began a chain reaction as my action led to their taking action resulting in others taking action.

There is no time like the present.

When my coach challenged me, I knew they had a point, but at the same time, I could think of million excuses not to move forward. I don’t have the time, people will ignore me, but the biggest hesitation is that people will think I want something. After all, “needy is creepy.”

Once I shifted my intention, I realized that I did want something.

For me, it was simply curiosity and the interest to reconnect. 

To learn more about what they are up to and share what I have going on. If I could help them, I would be happy to do so. 

Whatever happened beyond that would be a gift.

The shift in my intention changed the tone of the message, impacted the number of people who accepted my offer and led to some great conversations.

Who have you been thinking about but have been hesitant to reach out to? What story are you telling yourself that is holding you back? 

I invite you to borrow my intention or get clear on one of your own. To be curious to foster and kindle relationships where we can be helpful to one another. How cool would it be to reconnect with a person at a point in their lives when they needed to hear from someone like you? 

After all, these are the people you met along the way that you shared your big goals and mission with.  They were important people in your life at some point and have the potential to be going forward.

As I continue to connect, I have found some people who are right where they wanted to be, others who pivoted to something else, and a few who have had their share of challenges along the way.

Their stories felt very familiar because they are living with the same challenges with work and family that I am. Of course, time has passed, but we still have much in common.

I have left these calls with renewed energy, deeper insights and perspectives, and in a few instances, some clear actions relating to how we can help one another. 

Get out of your head and take action.

If you are the type of person, who might think this is a great idea but struggle to take action, follow the advice from a new connection in the coaching community. We met on a call, and he reached out to me because he was interested in learning about me.

As we talked, I told him about what I was working on and my plans for starting to reconnect. He listened intently, leaned into the conversation, and said you need to stop thinking and planning; just get out of your head and start doing.

I thought about it, smiled, thanked him for his time, and started.

As I think about it now, this was advice I needed to hear from someone I recently met that came at the right time—furthering my belief that when you take the time to connect with someone, it may just be what they need.

What are you waiting for? Get out of your head and take action.