Meet Britt Bolnick
Britt Bolnick is a successful biz owner and magic maker living a life she loves in Maine. She has traveled a path from financial scarcity to financial independence, building a 6-figure business she loves, as a single mama working less than full-time.
Britt mentors women who are 100% committed to building thriving businesses that create visibility and wealth without compromising personal life OR sanity- teaching women to use authentic connections to build success, vs. high ad spend.
How do you go about teaching business owners who dislike networking to network comfortably?
So one of the things that I do is really pull back from the word networking to really talk about how networking is just about building relationships and just about forming connections.
What are some of your networking pet peeves?
So my pet peeve is when the focus is taken off of building connections and relationships and more about the hustle. How many cards can hand out or who you can tell about what you’re doing.
So what are some of your favorite networking tips?
So one of my favorite things to do is to walk in with a bunch of questions that I want to ask other people. People love talking about themselves. And it becomes a really easy way to start a conversation that isn’t just small talk and can kind of pass into real connection faster.
Can you share your most successful or favorite networking experience that you’ve had?
The networking that I love are smaller groups that are sort of centered around a conversation. Someone will pose a place where she’s stuck or a question she has and we will kind of chime in to help. But it’s a great way of networking, because it allows you to really be authentic and be of service, which is one of the best ways to get someone to really remember you and your work.
How do you stay in front of or best nurture your community and your network?
So I do it by doing the things that I love. I really love Facebook for its possibility for connection. I use social media as a way to connect with people. And that’s something that I love doing on the day to day but then the other way that I really get in front of people and get visible is in small groups. I might do that by doing an in person workshop or by showing up at the smaller networking events that I really love.
What advice would you offer to the business professionals looking to grow their network?
So number one is be of service in an authentic way. Think of what your ideal clients needs. And then talk about that by giving tips and tools. Figure out how you can help people to get what they want.
Digital networking or traditional networking, which one do you find more value in?
Digital Marketing is easiest because I’m in front of my computer all day long. But I really use a mix of digital marketing and in person, live events because there’s something that happens when you’re in a room with people that cannot be replicated by digital marketing.
If you could go back to your 20-year-old self, what would you tell yourself to do more of/less of or differently with regards to your professional career?
I definitely would have believed in myself a little sooner. It took me a long time to believe in myself, and I think I could have done so much more.
We’ve all heard of the six degrees of separation. Now who would be the one person that you’d love to connect with. And do you think you can do it within the sixth degree?
I also started a nonprofit dog rescue about three years ago. And it’s really my heart and soul in so many different ways. It would probably be Tia Torres of Pit Bulls and Parolees, or Jon Stewart, who also does a lot with animal rescue. But someone who could really help us with our mission in terms of getting more eyes and funding.
What book are you reading right now?
“Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek. I really love his book but I can’t read it without a marker in my hand. Because I really love what he’s saying about really connecting to the “why” and letting that be your fuel.
Any final word or advice to offer our listeners with regards to growing and supporting your network?
I just really encourage people to think of how you can connect to and serve other people. There’s not a single person on this planet that you cannot connect with in some way shape or form. So it becomes this kind of magical invitation to find the way to connect with the person in front of you.
How to connect with Britt:
Website: https://inarmscoaching.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrittBolnickInArmsCoaching/