**About The Guest(s):** Kathleen Gabriel is the owner of Gabriel HR, a fractional HR consulting firm. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Kathleen specializes in helping small businesses with their HR needs, providing strategic initiatives and guidance to optimize their people management practices. **Summary:** Kathleen Gabriel, owner of Gabriel HR, shares her journey as a fractional HR consultant and the importance of networking in her business. She emphasizes the value of building relationships and being of service to others, highlighting the benefits of joining a networking group like BNI. Kathleen also discusses the misconceptions about HR professionals and the need for strategic HR initiatives in small businesses. **Key Takeaways:** - Building relationships and being of service to others is essential in networking. - Joining a networking group with goals and accountability can help overcome the fear of imposing on others. - HR professionals can bring strategic initiatives to small businesses, optimizing their people management practices. - Every company, regardless of industry, needs foundational HR practices such as policies, compliance, and compensation. - Networking is about connecting with people on a human level and understanding their needs. **Quotes:** - "Networking is just hanging out with people and getting to know each other." - Kathleen Gabriel - "Networking is a virtuous cycle. It works better if we all win." - Kathleen Gabriel   **Connect with Kathleen** Website: www.gabrielhr.com Email: kathleen@gabrielhr.com

**About AJ Lambert:** AJ Lambert is the lead swag scientist at Touch of Swag. He has a background in website development and marketing, but found his passion in the world of creative, tangible marketing through swag. AJ is a creative thinker and writer, and he uses his skills to help businesses strategically use swag to make connections and generate curiosity. **Summary:** AJ Lambert, the lead swag scientist at Touch of Swag, joins Ricky and Fletch to discuss the art of networking and the power of creative, tangible marketing. AJ shares his journey from website development to swag sales, and how he found his passion in helping businesses make connections through unique and memorable swag. He emphasizes the importance of being intentional in networking, crafting a clear message, and following up with potential connections. **Key Takeaways:** - Be intentional in your networking efforts and craft a clear message about what you do. - Use creative and unique swag to make connections and generate curiosity. - Follow up with potential connections to nurture relationships and stay top of mind. - Utilize LinkedIn to connect with and network with professionals in your industry. - Be authentic and share your experiences to connect with others on a deeper level. **Quotes:** - "I want to generate more curiosity for myself, for the people that I work with." - AJ Lambert - "The fortune is in the follow-up." - AJ Lambert - "Write down what you want and who you want to talk to, and be very intentional." - AJ Lambert   **Connect with AJ** LinkedIN Website

**About The Guest:** Chris Owen is a passionate networker and small business advocate. He is the owner of Jay Galt, a company that helps businesses build corporate credit to improve cash flow and take advantage of growth opportunities. **Summary:** Chris Owen, owner of Jay Galt, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of networking and building relationships in business. He shares his background as a small business owner and his passion for helping other small businesses succeed. Chris emphasizes the value of being well connected and offers tips for effective networking, including attending networking events, utilizing online platforms, and following up with contacts. He also highlights the importance of being passionate about what you do and genuinely caring about others. The conversation concludes with Chris sharing his contact information and encouraging listeners to reach out for further education and assistance. **Key Takeaways:** - Networking is essential for business success and growth. - Building relationships and being well connected can lead to valuable opportunities. - Passion and genuine care for others are key factors in effective networking. - Following up with contacts is crucial for maintaining relationships and fostering business connections. - Utilizing multiple channels, such as business cards, online platforms, and email, can help ensure strong connections. **Quotes:** - "Use what you love to fight what you hate." - Chris Owen - "Passion should come through no matter the medium." - Chris Owen - "Just do it. It's so much better to just get out there and do it." - Chris Owen   **Connect with Chris** cowen@jgalt.io Linkedin Website

**About The Guest(s):** Angela Stevens is the team leader and principal broker for Hatch Homes Group, a residential real estate brokerage based in Portland, Oregon. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Angela is a top producer and is dedicated to providing exceptional service to her clients. **Summary:** Angela Stevens shares her journey in the real estate industry and the challenges she faced during the Great Recession. She emphasizes the importance of building thick skin and being dedicated to succeed in sales. Angela also discusses her experience with networking and the evolution of her networking efforts. She highlights the value of building relationships and connecting with professionals who can provide valuable resources to her clients. Angela emphasizes the need for consistency, follow-up, and taking networking seriously. She also shares her insights on using social media, such as Instagram, to build trust and connections with potential clients. Angela concludes by discussing the importance of having a strong network of professionals who can provide exceptional service to clients. **Key Takeaways:** - Building thick skin and being dedicated are essential in sales and networking. - Consistency and follow-up are crucial in building relationships and trust. - Networking should focus on connecting with professionals who can provide valuable resources to clients. - Social media, such as Instagram, can be a powerful tool for building trust and connections. - Having a strong network of professionals who provide exceptional service is essential for success. **Quotes:** - "Consistency is my biggest word of the day when it comes to networking." - "Take networking seriously and show up consistently." - "Follow-up is crucial in building relationships and trust." - "Social media presence is a credibility factor for businesses." - "Surround yourself with people who push you to be better." **Connect with Angela** Angela@hatchhomes.com https://www.youtube.com/@hatchhomes https://www.instagram.com/angelaldstevens/

**About The Guest(s):** Sandra Gebhart is the Director of Awesome Results at Sandra Gebhart Marketing. She has been in the digital marketing space for eight years and specializes in organic social media marketing. Sandra is passionate about networking and helping others build meaningful connections online. **Summary:** Sandra Gebhart emphasizes the importance of networking and building relationships through social media. She believes that social media can be a powerful tool for making connections and growing your business. Sandra encourages individuals to be authentic and true to themselves when networking online. By sharing personal interests and engaging with others, you can create lasting connections and establish yourself as a trusted professional in your industry. **Key Takeaways:** - Use social media as a way to make money and build relationships. - Treat social media like a networking event and engage with others authentically. - Share personal interests and hobbies to create connections and stand out. - Be intentional with your posts and avoid controversial topics that may alienate your audience. - Clean up your social media by unfollowing or blocking negative or irrelevant accounts. **Quotes:** - "Think about using social media to make money. Once you do that, it comes a whole lot easier to use social media." - Sandra Gebhart - "Every time you sit down at your computer, you need to pretend like you're in an actual networking situation." - Sandra Gebhart - "Your Facebook isn't as private as you think it is. If you are super into politics, if you're into religion, if you're into whatever you're into, people are hesitant to share it online because they worry that they're going to alienate their audience." - Sandra Gebhart https://sandragebhardt.com/ Sandra Gebhart Facebook Link to Book Referenced: The Alter Ego Effect

**About The Guest(s):** Christopher Moore is the owner of Biz Strategists, a business coaching firm. With over 20 years of experience in business development and multiple certifications as a coach, Christopher helps businesses grow and achieve their goals. **Summary:** In this episode, Christopher Moore shares his journey from running a laptop distribution business to becoming a successful business coach. He emphasizes the importance of being proactive in networking, being intentional with your time, and providing value to others. Christopher also discusses his strategies for effective follow-up and leveraging technology in networking. **Key Takeaways:** - Be proactive in networking and take the initiative to connect with key people before attending events. - Focus on quality connections rather than quantity when networking, and be intentional with your time. - Follow up with people after networking events and personalize your approach to build meaningful relationships. - Use technology, such as digital business cards, to make it easier for people to connect with you and for you to follow up with them. **Quotes:** - "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." - Christopher Moore - "If you're going to do it, go all the way. Be present and do it with excellence." - Christopher Moore   **Contact Chris:** www.bizstrategists.com Chris@bizstrategists.com

On the latest episode of "Well Connected with Ricky and Fletch," Stephanie Levine joined us. She's not your average mortgage specialist, she's also one heck of a networker!  Let's dive into the show… Building Relationships through Networking: Stephanie, even though she's an introvert, is a pro at networking. She believes in being real and genuinely interested in people. Her secret? Setting goals when attending networking events, like meeting five new folks and following up with them later. She's all about making meaningful connections instead of just pushing sales. Starting a Networking Group: Stephanie's got some experience with BNI (Business Network International) and even started her own chapter when she couldn't find a good fit elsewhere. She'll tell you it's vital to find like-minded people to grow your networking group. The Power of Referrals: Referrals are gold for Stephanie. They've been way better for her business than cold calls or quick transactions. She swears by building trust and forming strong bonds with clients, which not only boosts her success rate but also leads to long-lasting connections. Overcoming Challenges and Tracking Success: Stephanie didn't have it easy starting from scratch, but she set some big goals, like doubling her business every year for the first five years. She faced financial challenges and had to prove herself in her commission-based career. Her advice? Keep an eye on your progress, learn from your slip-ups, and stay focused on building relationships, not just chasing quick sales. How to Connect with Stephanie Levine:  http://stephanielevine.neohomeloans.com http://linkedin.com/in/stephanielevine https://www.facebook.com/stephlovesmortgages https://www.instagram.com/skl421/# And Soon on TikTok as well!  #NetworkingSuccess #BuildingRelationships #Referrals #OvercomingChallenges #AuthenticNetworking #WellConnectedShow #BNI #sales #business  Hope you enjoy the episode! 🎙️✨

In this short episode, Ricky and Fletch reflect on the first 8 episodes and give a summary of what is to come as you begin your listening journey with Well Connected.    It's time to get hyped, get ready to subscribe, and tune in weekly to turn up your networking and start seeing results!

Welcome to Well Connected. In this episode, Ricky and Fletch interview each other to introduce themselves to you, the listener. Both hosts discuss who they are, what they do, why networking is important to them, and why they decided to create the pod.  There is an art and a science to be successful in networking, and that as corny as the saying goes, it's absolutely true: your network is your net-worth. Lets grow both together, learning from those already finding success. Join us each week as we interview people who have found success in building networks that not only grow their own businesses, but help others grow theirs as well.