Whether you’re looking for a content creator, a designer, or an accountant, most likely you won't start with a search engine. You'll ask around before you get serious. The WSJ recently wrote about a corporate trend: avoiding the usual job posts in favor of queries to a well-connected thought leader. Alas, all too many business owners think of networking in terms of The Coffee Date. If you’ve been in business awhile, you’ve probably got enough Coffee Date Stories to fill a comedy set at a business-oriented comedy show. On this podcast, I share a few stories of networking gone wrong. Some of them feature experienced marketers who should know better…or just had a very bad day.  Even better you’ll discover how to use stories to make sure you connect effectively, so you don’t waste your time and theirs.  And you’ll learn a technique I found in Dorie Clark’s excellent book, The Long Game, on how to respond to that inevitable question: “Can we get together and talk about our businesses?” Not surprisingly, she’s far more tactful than I am. If you’d like to learn more about backstories, you can download my free report, How To Learn What REALLY Motivates Your Clients.  I also have a course on this topic. Use the coupon LISTEN20 to get a 30% discount.  Just browsing and enjoying the content? Click here to buy me a virtual coffee.