Dare 4 - April 2025

Written By Cynthia Lait

It's the start of a new month, so you know what to expect: the April Dare!  (March dare results are available here)

West Seattle sidewalk flamingos, summer 2024

How strong is your network (business and personal)?  Could it benefit from a little growth?  This month, I dare you to grow your network by 1 or 2 people. This person doesn't have to become your best friend, but see what you can do to meet and connect with one new person.  A few ideas:

  • Is there someone you run into frequently who just nods hello, with nothing more being said?  This person might be a candidate for a quick hello and a ‘how are you?’ conversation. Just exchanging names would be considered a win.

  • Is there a colleague in your world who might benefit from your support or some mentoring?  What if you strengthened that relationship and helped them?

  • Is there someone you would like to have as a mentor?  What if you asked them for support?  I've found that when most of us reach a certain age, we're happy to mentor and support younger colleagues.

  • Is there a neighbor in your neighborhood who might appreciate a few flowers or a cookie and a short visit?

  • What might be other ways to grow your network?

Café de la Gare, Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France 2024

If you’re an introvert, this may sound daunting, but trust me, the more you exercise this muscle, the easier it gets. If you’re an extrovert, I’m guessing you already completed this dare before the end of this article!

As a lifelong introvert, I undervalued my network. Meeting and talking with people made me anxious, so I avoided it. But after much trial and error, I soon learned how to connect with the people I was meeting.  If this is a challenge for you, here are some ideas for starting conversations:

  • How are you?   (beyond the 'fine' response)

  • What are some of your travel plans?

  • What podcasts do you recommend?

  • What streaming shows/movies have you enjoyed recently?

  • What's your dog's name? How did you choose that name?

Best buddies, Sequim, WA 2017

Kat Vellos produced a fabulous calendar a few years ago.  Here are some fun ideas you could test out the next time you meet someone:

Kat Vellos calendar, 2021

For better conversations, here are a few resources:

Networking is a skill you can learn and get good at! I dare you to grow your network.  Let me know how things go :)

Cynthia Lait
Previous

Dare 4 - April Update
Next

Dare 3 - March 2025