The fire that goes cold when you stop tending it
Why Your Greatest Opportunities Already Exist Inside Your Relationships
Dedicated to Tracy Curington for all his support and belief in me and... because he requested a book!
Christmas Eve. I just finished wrapping gifts, house is quiet, and heading out to join our church family for the Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, and I'm thinking about connection.
Not networking in the "Who do I need to meet?" sense—but connection in the human sense.
People ask me all the time: "Penny, how do you know so many people?" or "How do you stay top-of-mind without being pushy?"
Here's the truth: I don't "network" occasionally. I live relationally.
And Christmas is the perfect season to see this clearly.
How I Actually Network (And Why It Works)
I've intentionally built my life around being visible, useful, and connected—not just when I need something, but all the time.
Here's what that looks like:
I show up locally. I wear my name badge at events. I joined the senior centre—not for business, but for belonging. I volunteer as social media lead for a local music festival because attention is a form of contribution.
I give my time to causes I care about:
Ronald McDonald House with friends
Workshops for immigrant and newcomer communities
Leadership and employment programs
I'm an active member of the Chamber, BNI, and Toastmasters (and I visit other clubs, not just my own).
I collaborate. I help launch a business breakfast club. I host a podcast and invite people into real conversations. I show up on other people's stages instead of always building my own. I create and lead networking groups where connection comes before pitching.
Online, I stay visible—posting daily on my platforms and supporting others. I write a LinkedIn newsletter. I comment, share, and amplify people in my network.
And maybe most importantly... I host.
Annual gatherings at my home. Meetups at local events to reconnect—not collect. Regular coffee dates, phone calls, voice notes, text messages just to check in. Sending articles or introductions that might help someone.
I don't treat people like leads. I treat them like people I'm willing to invest time in, build trust with, and grow alongside.
What This Means for You
Christmas isn't about acquisition. It's about remembrance.
Who's been part of your journey? Who helped you this year? Who did you lose touch with—not because of conflict, but because of life?
This season gives you permission to reach out without an agenda.
A simple "Thinking of you" or "This reminded me of you" isn't awkward. That's relational leadership.
Try This Before New Year's
Before 2025 ends, choose 3–5 people and:
Send a message
Leave a voice note
Make a phone call
Share something that made you think of them
No pitch. No follow-up plan. Just presence.
Because what I've described here isn't hustle.
It's power-base thinking—the idea that your greatest opportunities already exist inside your relationships.
And relationships, like fires in winter, don't stay warm on their own. They need tending.
P.S. Want to learn more about building and nurturing your power base? I've put together a free guide with practical examples and step-by-step instructions.
📥 Download: Networking Smart E-book – Free
Until next week,
Penny
