Imagine if every honest, hard worker never feared losing their job because they knew they could get another one.
Imagine if everyone understood the power of the Internet in the modern economy to allow them to create their own living through entrepreneurship.
Continue reading “My Mission”If your calendar is full of networking calls but your business isn’t growing, your follow-up strategy might be the problem. In fact, I’d say 90% of missed opportunities in networking don’t happen during the event — they happen after it.
That’s right. Your networking follow-up strategy may be slowly strangling your potential. But don’t worry. I’ve got your oxygen mask.
Let’s back up. What’s the point of networking? (Spoiler: It’s not to collect business cards like Pokémon.)
Networking is about building real relationships — the kind that lead to referrals, partnerships, and growth. The key to that? Follow-up.
One brief conversation at a mixer does not a relationship make. You need follow-up — real follow-up. Not the “let’s stay in touch” kind that disappears into the void.
But most people never make it past “Nice meeting you.”
Let’s fix that.
A good networking follow-up strategy does three things:
Let’s break those down.
Every interaction should have a next step.
After that initial call, do you book a follow-up in 30 days? Introduce them to someone? Invite them to your podcast or event? Share a resource?
You don’t always need to sell. In fact, you almost never should. The goal is momentum — keep the ball rolling.
That’s why I recommend creating a Calendly link (or similar scheduling tool) with smart intake questions. It helps you book that next step while keeping things organized.
During your first call, pay attention to what they need — then give it to them. Not a pitch. Not your offer. Actual value.
Three ways to do that?
For example, if someone mentions that they are confused by finance, you could share with them Penelope Jane Smith’s Financial Freedom 101. You’re not selling. You’re helping.
This is what makes people remember you. Not your elevator pitch. Not your clever tagline. But how helpful you were when they didn’t expect it.
You don’t need a CRM that rivals NASA. A spreadsheet, Google Calendar, or a whiteboard is fine — as long as you use it.
The key is to follow up with people you want in your network. If the call was a dud, let it go. But if there was potential, don’t let it die in the “we should do something sometime” zone.
And please — don’t be weird. Follow up like a human being. Remember something from your conversation. Share a relevant resource. Be yourself.
You’re not going to build a powerful, opportunity-generating network by accident. You need a networking follow-up strategy that works — one built on action, value, and consistency.
The best part? You don’t need to invent this from scratch. I wrote the book on it — literally.
👉 If this resonates and you want a clear, fun, and actionable guide to mastering the art of networking (and follow-up), grab your copy of The Guy Who Knows a Guy’s Guide to Networking right here.
Let’s fix your follow-up — and your network.
When it comes to building real relationships, learning how to provide value in networking is the secret sauce. It’s the difference between being remembered and being forgotten before dessert. And if you want networking to actually work for you—bringing leads, referrals, and meaningful connections—this is where you start.
Most people approach networking with a “What can I get?” mindset. But if you flip that into “What can I give?” you become magnetic—the kind of person everyone wants in their circle.
In this article, I’ll show you exactly how to provide value in networking in a way that’s authentic, generous, and (here’s the kicker) strategic.
By the way, if you’re not sure what not to do, check out Why Most Networking Fails (And What to Do Instead). It’s a crash course in avoiding the schmooze-and-lose trap.
When it comes to how to provide value in networking, introductions are the A-list move.
Let’s say you meet someone who needs help with their social media, and two conversations later you meet a strategist who lives for Instagram. You’ve just become the connection genie.
✨ Poof—friendship, gratitude, and reputation boost, all in one.
And if you want to make that introduction unforgettable, snap a selfie with the person you’re introducing, then send it in a quick email or text to the other person. It creates instant social proof, and both parties now associate you with something positive and proactive.
Advice is another great example of how to provide value in networking, especially when it’s tailored and welcomed.
Don’t just info-dump. Instead, listen. Then offer something like:
“Hey, you mentioned looking to learn how to get paid to speak. My friend Orly Amor has a program called the Paid Gig Accelerator. It’s all about finding paid speaking opportunities—thousands of them. You should definitely check it out.”
The key is to only share advice when it’s relevant and useful. When you do, you become a go-to resource.
Yes, making an offer can be a way to provide value—if someone expresses a need that your service solves.
Here’s the right way to do it:
“Would you like help with that?”
That simple question is an invitation, not a pitch. It creates space for a conversation, not a sales presentation. You’re offering a solution, not twisting arms.
Want to make scheduling calls seamless? Use a tool like Calendly to set up a booking link with custom questions. I even wrote a quick guide to how to create a Calendly link.
When you lead with value—whether it’s an introduction, advice, or an offer—you’re sending a message:
“I see you. I want to help. I’m not here to take. I’m here to build something.”
That’s rare. That’s powerful. And it’s exactly how to provide value in networking and stand out in a sea of salesy small talk.
Want to go deeper and learn how to use networking to grow your business, get leads, and build real relationships?
👇
Grab your copy of The Guy Who Knows a Guy’s Guide to Networking and become the person everyone wants to know.
Get the book now
Networking is one of the most powerful tools in your business arsenal… and also one of the most misused. Walk into any typical networking event and you’ll find a parade of people handing out business cards like Halloween candy, rattling off pitchy introductions, and leaving with a stack of names they’ll never follow up on.
Sound familiar?
The truth is, most networking fails—not because people are lazy or bad at it, but because they’re doing it backwards.
They’re trying to get before they ever think about how to give.
Let’s fix that.
Most people walk into a networking event thinking, “How can I make a sale?” That’s like showing up to a first date with a wedding ring and a detailed proposal. Too soon, my friend. Too soon.
The real goal of networking is not to close a deal in the room—it’s to identify people you want to follow up with and build relationships. The money? The deals? The magic? That happens in the follow-up.
So stop treating every handshake like a sales opportunity, and start treating it like an invitation to a deeper connection.
1. No Clarity on Goals
If you don’t know what you’re there for, neither does anyone else. Walk in knowing who you’re looking to meet—your ideal partners, clients, vendors, mentors—and what kind of conversations you want to have.
2. Talking Too Much (or Not Enough)
Ever meet someone who monologues about their business until your eyes glaze over? Or someone so vague you’re not sure what they even do? Don’t be that person. Start with a tight, clear 8-second intro (learn to do that here), then ask great questions. Make it about them.
3. No Follow-Up
You leave with a pocket full of business cards, toss them on your desk, and forget all about them. Weeks later, you can’t remember who they were or why you wanted to talk. Effective networking always includes timely, intentional follow-up. If you’re not doing that, you’re not networking.
Networking done right doesn’t feel like selling. It feels like helping. And when people like you and trust you, business happens naturally.
If this resonated with you, you’ll love my book The Guy Who Knows a Guy’s Guide to Networking. It goes deep into strategies, tactics, and mindset shifts that will change how you connect forever.
👉 Click here to grab your copy now
Let’s stop networking the hard way. Let’s do it the right way.
So, you’ve decided to stop playing “schedule tag” over email and level up your networking game. Bravo! 🥳 Step one on your journey to networking greatness? Creating a calendar booking link that screams I’ve got my act together.
Let’s talk Calendly. Because nothing kills the flow of a great networking moment like:
“Hey, I’d love to follow up. Want to email me some times?”
“Sure! What time zone are you in again?”
“Are you free next Thursday?”
[5 days later]
“Sorry, I got busy. Still interested?”
Yikes.
Here’s how to create a clean, simple, pro-level scheduling experience that sets the tone for a powerful connection.
Go to Calendly.com and sign up for a free account (or a paid account if you want all the features. It’s cheap.) That’s it. Step 1 complete. Look at you go!
Click “New Event Type.” I recommend starting with a 20-30 minute 1:1 meeting—perfect for those quick “get to know you” networking follow-ups.
Set the event name to something clear like:
Set your availability to reflect when you’re generally free (and sane). Don’t open your calendar 24/7 unless you’re trying to win the World Record for Most Burnout.
This is where the magic happens. Don’t skip this.
Calendly lets you ask questions when someone books. This lets you show up to the call like a mind-reading genius.
Here are some sample questions to include:
Boom. You walk into every call with context. You’ve already skipped the awkward 5 minutes of “so, uh, what do you do again?”
Calendly will give you a link that looks like this:
https://calendly.com/yourname/coffeechat
Save that somewhere you can easily grab it. Paste it in your Zoom chats. Add it to your email signature. Tattoo it on your forearm. (Okay, maybe don’t do that.)
If you’ve got a resource, podcast, or event to share, Calendly lets you redirect folks after they book. Use that space to give value right away—just like I teach in the book.
Having a booking link doesn’t just save time—it sets you apart. It says:
📌 I respect your time.
📌 I’m organized.
📌 I’m serious about connecting.
And if you’re building your network, credibility matters from the first click.
Creating a Calendly link is just the beginning. To really rock your networking game (and never be ignored at a mixer again), grab your copy of The Guy Who Knows a Guy’s Guide to Networking. You’ll learn how to use that booking link like a boss—and build a network that actually works for you.
You know how everyone says, “You only get one chance to make a first impression”?
Well, when you’re networking, that impression better fit into 8 seconds.
Not 30. Not 60. Eight.
That’s because most networking interactions start with one lightning-fast moment of attention. If you use that moment to rattle off your job title and the industry buzzwords you think sound impressive… you’ve already lost them.
The 8-Second Intro is not about who you are.
It’s about the problem you solve—and for whom you solve it.
Let’s break it down.
This line introduces the problem, and it’s crucial that it’s phrased in the third person.
Not “You know how you struggle with,” but rather:
“You know how some people…” or “You know how businesses often…”
You want to invite them into shared understanding without making it about them (yet).
Now you bring in the solution. And spoiler: the solution is not your job title.
Here’s the formula:
You know how [the problem]? What I do is [the solution].
That’s it. Simple. Memorable. Effective.
Let’s look at some examples.
❌ “I’m a realtor. I help people buy and sell homes.”
🙄 Yawn. So does literally every other realtor in the universe.
✅ “You know how buying a home can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life? What I do is guide people through the process so it’s easy and even enjoyable.”
🔥 Boom. Now you’re not a realtor. You’re a stress-busting dream home sherpa.
❌ “I’m a business coach.”
🤷 Cool story.
✅ “You know how entrepreneurs get stuck working 60 hours a week and still don’t see results? What I do is help them design systems so their business works even when they don’t.”
Now that’s someone I want to talk to.
And most importantly: it opens the door to a real conversation.
Don’t write your 8-Second Intro once and carve it in stone.
You’ll want to tweak it for different audiences, events, or goals.
But always keep the core structure.
Because structure = clarity.
And clarity = connections.
The 8-Second Intro is just one of many powerful tools you’ll master in
The Guy Who Knows a Guy’s Guide to Networking — a real-world guide to building relationships that turn into results.
🎯 If you want to finally feel confident walking into any room (or Zoom) and know exactly what to say and how to say it…
👉 Get the book here and start networking like a pro.
Yesterday, on the Pathways to Paydays Summit, one of the people who accepted hotseat coaching was at step 0 of her business.
She has no sales, no clear offer, no real business.
I gave her a piece of advice which I believe will also be powerful for hundreds of you in my community because few people will say it.
Continue reading “The Small Goal That Makes a Big Win”We hear it all the time: “New Year, New You!”
Why?
Because it sells stuff. It sounds easy. Throw out that old you that’s not working out and get a new one.
I would like to invite you to never say it ever again.
You have spent many years becoming the you that you are. Your knowledge, relationships, skills, habits, ideas, beliefs, convictions, passions all make up who you are.
Most of it is good. All of it is you.
What does it imply to say “new year, new me?” It implies that the old you, the you who is saying those words, is crap.
If I say “new year, new washing machine,” my old washing machine is ending up in a landfill. Does your current self, your entire self, belong in a landfill? Of course not, and I’ll prove it.
Sit down right now and write the 10 best things about yourself. Does the person who those 10 things apply to need to be thrown out and replaced.
NO!
You don’t need a new you next year. You need the you that God made, that you are right now, slightly better next year!
My car runs quite well, in spite of its 188,000 miles, but sometimes it has a slight hesitation accelerating under certain situations.
The effect is the whole car, but it’s probably just one small part, maybe the fuel pump.
Take a look a this. It’s the whole car and the fuel pump in proportion to it…
In the whole big car, there’s one tiny part that maybe needs to be replaced or fixed. Every other part of the car is great.
Maybe you need a new, clearer set of goals.
Maybe you need new habits.
Maybe you need a new budgeting system.
Maybe you need to finally clean your office.
In 2025, you will be the same wonderful, brilliant, passionate, inspired child of God that you were in 2024.
Do you need to grow? Absolutely.
Do you need to learn? Definitely.
Do you need to change everything? NO!
-Michael Whitehouse
The Guy Who Knows a Guy
Do you have a problem you’d like to solve?
Have you been looking high and low for a solution?
Would you like to hear me talk about your problem without doing anything to solve it other than asking for your money?
You are in luck!
I’d like to invite you to an incredible, life changing webinar. 90 minutes of your life that you’ll never get back.
During this webinar, you will learn….
…how excited I am about some meaningless credentials that don’t prove I can help you.
…the story of when I did something I’m really proud of that has nothing to do with the topic.
…just how many ways there are to talk around a topic without teaching you anything about it.
In this webinar, you are absolutely guaranteed to not learn one single solitary useful tip, tool, or technique on the topic.
But you will be kept on constant suspense, thinking I’m about to teach you something.
As an added Bonus, I will share with you a series of case studies. These case studies are carefully crafted to yield no information as to what my process might be, and you’ll be pretty sure I made them up using stock photos.
For example, meet Bob and Suzy Jones!
Before working with me they were sad, overweight, miserable, and broke. They were actually in the brink of divorce.
But after going through whatever my program is, they are happier. They have lost 193 pounds between them. They have more money than they ever dreamed of and were finally able to drive that RV. And their sex life is better than ever.
So, join me for this incredible webinar.
At the very end, I’ll offer you an amazing $397 offer that’s really $997, although no one in this history of mankind has paid $997 or even been offered that price.
In the $397 program, I will teach you between 0 and 3 actionable pieces of information, while mostly continuing to tell you how awesome I am, and setting you up for the next sale, which really is $997 (although I tell you it is normally $2500).
Register now for this powerful event that will unlock your new future!
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Have you noticed that the vast majority of people in the online business world are some variety of marketing coach or consultant? Do you know why that is?
There are some marketing coaches who just love marketing, and that’s what they’ve always done. They are awesome and provide a valuable service. But that is a small minority of marketing experts out there.
For many of them. if you take a look at their history, you’ll find that most of them used to be something else. An energy healer. A wellness coach. A parenting coach.
But then, in order for their business to be successful, they had to master all aspects of marketing. The learned to build funnels, write copy, run launches, manage social media and all the rest.
After spending months or years perfecting those skills, they discovered that selling those hard won skills was more lucrative than contributing to the world in the way that they had been called to.
And, just like that, the world has one more marketing coach.
Nothing against marketing coaches, but they don’t actually create anything in the world. They facilitate those who make a difference to reach the people they can make a difference for.
Or they would, except for the fact that too many people, once they spend years mastering marketing, give up on making that difference for selling their marketing knowledge.
This is a bad system. It drains the world of the knowledge and solutions we need.
But, up until now, it has been necessary. It doesn’t matter what you are an expert in. If you don’t also become an expert in marketing, no one will ever find you.
What if there were a platform that let experts be experts without becoming marketers.
That is the core of what The Great Discovery is.
The Great Discovery is a course platform where experts can share their courses to be promote by an affiliate network.
The core of the marketing strategy is a network marketing model, but unlike most network marketing companies, The Great Discovery’s affiliates aren’t selling the products of The Great Discovery. They are selling the courses created by the members.
Course creators get to leverage the power of network marketing to promote their content by simply creating great content.
They don’t have to get involved in the network marketing side at all, or they can choose to do so for additional revenue.
The key thing is that experts can focus on being experts!
The Great Discovery is still in a pre-launch phase.
That means that course creators who sign up before March 15th, 2024, will have the opportunity to pay just $628 one time to get unlimited lifetime course posting privileges. One course or a thousand courses, all included. No limits. No maintenance fees.
After the launch, it will shift to a more traditional monthly membership model.
If you would like to sign up, go to this link, and follow these steps:
At that point, you will be a course creator with lifetime course posting privileges.
If you would like to know more, there is a video on that web site, or you can email me at michael@guywhoknowsaguy.com to ask questions.
But I encourage you to act quickly because there is a great benefit in getting in on this early.
I would rather my daughter watch violent movies than the children’s cereal commercials I grew up with.
At least the violent movies are honest about their message.
Do you remember the classic 1980s and 1990s cereal commercials? Cute little cartoon characters with funny little taglines.
“Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids.”
“They’re always after me Lucky Charms.”
A good marketing or sales message solves a problem that the audience has. The easiest way to know what problem the audience has is to give them the problem. An effective commercial will create the world in which you need their product.
Think of the infomercial where a person opens their kitchen cabinet and an avalanche of storage containers falls on them. Then they offer you a much more efficient set of storage containers.
Never in my life have I opened a kitchen cabinet and had a thousand containers fall on me, but as I watch the infomercial, I am thinking that maybe I should get their storage solution because they’ve drawn me into a world where such problems happen.
Remember the Fruity Pebbles commercials of the 90s?
Fred and Barney are supposed to be best friends, yet the theme of every single ad is that Barney is trying to steal Fred’s cereal.
What’s the moral lesson of this story? If you have something you like enough, then you keep it all to yourself and never share.
How about Trix?
“Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids.”
“Silly person whose not like us, you don’t deserve the good things that we have.”
Only the people in the privileged class (kids) deserve the best things (Trix). The conceit of the ad is built on the same philosophical underpinnings as segregation laws.
Now you see why I’d be more comfortable with my daughter watching John Wick than an old cereal commercial.
At least the moral lesson of John Wick is about love and loyalty, not racism and selfishness.
World building is a powerful part of any sales or marketing message, and it is as dangerous as it is powerful.
Think of the events in the coaching industry, the ones built around giving you knowledge as a way to draw you in to make an offer.
There’s nothing wrong with this format, just like there’s nothing wrong with a TV commercial, but where it becomes problematic is when the world created is not entirely accurate.
If you’re attending an event like this, it is likely because you think the host knows something worth learning. So, if they teach you that rapid action is the key to success, and they are successful, you’ll internalize that idea that rapid action is good.
But what if they are only teaching this so that you’ll take rapid action to buy their program.
How about if they teach you that worrying about risk is overrated, and that taking massive risks with limited research is the path to riches?
But they are teaching this because they want you to think less of the risk of buying their program.
Maybe you don’t buy into their program, but you adjust your risk tolerance based on what this expert taught you and you mortgage your house to buy into some risky scheme and lose it all.
The advice wasn’t actually good advice, but was simply advice meant to compel you to a particular self-serving course of action.
After 25 years of studying sales, I can sniff out when someone has crafted their lesson to “teach” me what I need to know to make the decision they want me to make.
When this happens, I learn that I cannot trust a single word out of their mouth. If they are always selling and always closing, then when are they truly teaching?
If their lessons are built around pushing me to buy the next program, can I trust them to ever stop selling if I do buy in?
The way we do one thing is the way we do everything, right?
It’s okay to plant seeds in a sales process, but it’s not okay to turn your event into a jungle of manipulation.
The reason that people sell this way is that it works. They get you in for three days, live or online, draw you into their world, and after all that time, your reality is shifted enough that you’re ready to make decisions you wouldn’t other.
Unfortunately, if you don’t end up buying, then you leave with your reality warped, not shifted.
The better way is to approach the situation with the primary desire to serve, teach, and support.
The better way is to go into your event with the primary intention that every, single person who has trusted you with their time (and possibly money) will leave that event better for having met you whether or not they buy anything.
The better way is to share the best of what you know and who you are and trust that the right people will be attracted to work with you.
