No trust? You’re toast.

I learned this lesson in what I’m convinced was the toughest way possible. When I co-founded my company, Influence & Co., I knew that in order to help us grow, make valuable connections, and land some qualified clients, I needed to dive headfirst into the word of networking.

I had a solid background in sales, so I walked confidently into my first conference, expecting to shake hands with industry leaders and influencers I could blow away with my knowledge and expertise.

This, as you’ve probably guessed by now, did not happen. I could hardly get the time of day from other attendees. It hurt me to my core and shook my faith in my ability to actually grow this company that I had put so much into already.

Why was I gett...