Connection First
Socializing can be a business tactic (yes, really).
People often ask us: “Do attendees talk about business at your Virtual Tea Parties?” (a.k.a. the monthly group calls for 5-8 business owners we’ve been hosting for the past 10 years).
The answer is no. Not really.
We talk about books our clients are reading. Plants that grow in northern exposures. How to manage capacity when life gets stressful. Whatever’s on our minds that day.
And yet...
Over ten years of hosting these gatherings, we’ve watched attendees meet new friends, find podcast guests, hire one another, send referrals, write books together, and even become business partners—all because they showed up for tea.
Here’s what we know: socializing is business. The conversations that don’t feel like networking often lead to the most meaningful opportunities.
This week’s practice:
Start here: Put something social on your calendar. Not a “networking event.” Not a “business meeting.” Something where you can just be with other people doing good work in the world.
It could be:
Accepting an invitation you’ve been hesitating on
Hosting your own informal gathering (virtual or in-person)
Reaching out to someone to grab coffee with no agenda.is
Show up without needing it to “turn into” anything. Connection first. Everything else follows.
What do you think? What’s one social thing you could say yes to this month?
P.S. Want to join us for Virtual Tea? Email hello@lasperegrinas.org to get on the invitation list. You bring the cookies, we’ll supply the tea.