Get out and meet people!
by Geoff Shepherd, Oct 18
From Conversations to Connections
Every great business story starts with a conversation.
A chance meeting at an event. A chat over coffee. A message sent at the right moment. These are the sparks that turn into opportunity.
That simple truth has always sat at the heart of the Yorkshire Mafia. We do not sell. We do not chase. We connect. Thousands of introductions have started this way, often with no agenda at all. People meet, talk, and trust each other enough to explore what might come next. It is not networking in the corporate sense. It is human.
The world has changed, and the way we meet has changed with it. We spend more time on screens than ever before. We join calls instead of lunches, webinars instead of conferences, and digital groups instead of real communities. It is efficient, but it is also empty. Something gets lost when every connection happens through a device.
You cannot replace a handshake. You cannot read a room through a webcam. You cannot build real trust by liking someone’s post.
That is why good networking events still matter. Not the ones where people push business cards at you or pitch their services before they even know your name. The good ones. The ones where people come to talk, to listen, and to connect properly.
When you are in the same room as other business owners, you see things you do not see online. You pick up energy, intent, and confidence. You hear the tone behind the words. You spot potential collaborators that no algorithm would ever match you with.
Sometimes you meet people who change the direction of your career. Sometimes you find new suppliers, partners, or mentors. Sometimes you just have a conversation that makes you think differently. All of it matters.
The truth is that networking done well is not about selling at all. It is about curiosity. It is about showing up, asking questions, and learning what other people are building. It is about building a community of people who actually know each other.
That is why the Yorkshire Mafia continues to focus on real, in-person events. They remind us that business is not built on systems or software. It is built on people.
If you have been part of a YM event before, you will know the feeling. The buzz in the room, the easy conversations, the moment you realise that someone across the table completely understands what you are trying to do. That is what makes this work.
So make time for the good events. Step away from the desk. Leave the inbox for a few hours. Talk to people again. Because while technology can help us reach more people, only people can build relationships that last.
If you want to reconnect with real people and see what this community feels like in person, join us at one of our upcoming Yorkshire Mafia events. Every gathering is relaxed, welcoming, and built around conversation, not pressure or sales. You can see what is coming up here: View upcoming events
