Hey Reader,

This is the weekly announcement for The Awkward Handshake, a podcast & community all about networking that I co-host. If you want to opt-out of these podcast & networking community updates, CLICK HERE.

25,000 people. One convention floor. Two very different women with two very different agendas.

When Megan and I flew to New York for BookCon, a massive book convention that hadn't happened in six years, we went in with completely different goals. Megan was in full market research and list-building mode. I was also in market research mode and... trying to enjoy it. Spoiler: the enjoyment did not last past hour two for me. She lapped the floor three times. I found a bougie brunch.

But here's what we actually took away from the whole thing:

✨ Why paying for access, especially destination events, completely rewires how you show up
✨ The pre-event prep move that created "oh my god, it's YOU" moments at the booth

✨ How Megan hosted a meetup for cozy readers and walked away with a list, new followers, and serendipity she didn't see coming
✨ Why business cards are still not dead (and why so many vendors clearly forgot that)
✨ The post-event follow-through that most people skip, and why it's where the real networking happens

The big thread running through all of it: the room doesn't do the work for you. The prep does. The intention does. The follow-up does.

🎧 Listen to Episode 16: What BookCon Taught Us About Networking on Purpose

From there, you can listen in your browser or open it in your favorite podcast app.

Whether or not you ever set foot in a convention, the stuff we're talking about this week applies to the next local event you're already planning to attend. Start the pre-work. Know your why before you walk in. And for the love of all things networking, bring your business cards.

If you enjoyed the episode, we’d love it if you left a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more thoughtful, interesting humans find the show.

Talk soon,
Mary + Megan