Musings of a Networking Maven: A Practical Guide to Self-Awareness and Business Networking Skills
by Esther Deutsch
I wrote this book for business networkers and connectors who want to get better at building an intentional business network.
I want to share my lessons and musings as I learned how to build self-awareness and enhance my business networking skills.
You should read this book if:
- You are in some way responsible for adding revenues to a business.
- You love networking and want to get better at it.
- You want to network smarter, not harder.
- You believe that building a network is a great path to success in any endeavor.
I will share my best advice on how to build self-awareness and enhance your business networking skills.
I will also be sharing resources to guide you on your journey to improve your mindset, skill set, and gear set.
Whether we work together or not, I encourage you to take the time to read this book and see if there are any strategies that can have a positive impact on your business or life right now.
I have intentionally left many blank pages for you to use to take notes as you cultivate your business network.
A good portion of this book is written in a question-and-answer format. I want you to be able to jump to the questions that interest you the most. There is no one right way to read this book.
The Invisible Entrepreneur: From Mental Health to Mindset
It was wonderful to contribute to a book by Tabatha Barron.
It is amazing how many women have various experiences that challenges their individual circumstances from childcare to employment to just being heard during medical visits, let alone becoming an entrepreneur. We are strong, courageous, impactful, resilient women and it shows in the stories that are shared in the book. I found out that some of the stories shared had segments that I had personally experienced and it showed what skill set they used to move through it.
This is a way for us to not hear what we should do and how we should do it, this is the type of book that allows you to peek into the life of different people in different industries with similar experiences on their journey and see how it can be applied in our own lives and journey.
Each contributor outlined their experiences in their own words to support us on our entrepreneurial marathon. The level of courage and vulnerability shared here is a great way to help those who are encountering challenging people and situations and to understand you are not wrong, broken, or damaged. It is the opposite because you have the answer and those who are meant for you are the ones that will find you and also there is always more than one way to reach your goal. It can be difficult but you just need the right support, unshakable faith, fortitude of a champion, and the fierceness of a lioness and that is where your winning attitude will reside in you!
These ladies have shown me that! I hope you are able to get a similar message when reading The Invisible Entrepreneur from Mental Health to Mindset because those are two things that are not up for compromise.
Lesson from the Lighthouse Sessions
Clarity, Courage, and Connection for Visionary Founders
Every founder faces fog. Sometimes it looks like burnout. Sometimes, disconnection. And sometimes, a quiet sense that the old playbooks no longer apply.
That’s where The Lighthouse Sessions comes in.
Grounded in the heartfelt podcast conversations hosted by Jeff Borschowa—with a little narrative flair from his ghostwriter alter ego, Professor Inkworth—this June edition distills real stories, powerful questions, and soulful strategy from visionary founders who are redefining success on their terms.
Whether you’re neurodivergent, unconventional, or simply allergic to hustle culture, these monthly editions offer more than business advice. They’re reflections. Rhythms. Beacons in the fog.
🧠 Featured Wisdom from Our Guests
This month’s standout Golden Nuggets include:
🔹 Vern Schellenger – “Networking isn’t about shallow contacts—it’s about trust-based, mutually beneficial relationships.”
🔹 Leslie C. Fiorenzo – “Your voice is a leadership tool. Speak to connect, not just inform.”
🔹 Kat Jovey – “You’re not everyone’s flavor. That’s your superpower.”
🔹 Tamara Pflug – “You’re not broken. You’re just stuck in your thinking.”
🔹 Rick McCulloch – “Profit feeds the dream. Start there, not with hype.”
🔹 Rory Henry – “Your future self isn’t a stranger. Envision them clearly.”
🔹 Devin Thorpe – “Crowdfunding isn’t charity. It’s impact-aligned capitalism.”
🔹 Hamish Knox – “Your sales system is your freedom. Not a trap.”
🔹 Dr. Calvin Lawrence – “Your mess becomes your message—after you mine it.”
🔹 Bethany Kennedy – “Your joy is your compass. Trust your ‘knower.’”
🔹 Bob Bryenton – “Craftsmanship is 90% sanding. Excellence hides in the unsexy.”
🔹 Deena Kordt – “You can monetize and lead with heart. It’s not either/or.”
🔹 Dr. Lois Reid – “AI is your neurodivergent co-pilot—train it to think like you.”
🔹 Yvonne DiVita – “Bleed on the page. That’s how readers remember.”
🔹 LaChelle Adkins – “Boundaries aren’t barriers. They’re your power lines.”
🔹 Jeff Borschowa – “The fog isn’t failure. It’s a signal to build a lighthouse.”
🔹 Jeff Borschowa – “Your business is Minecraft. Dig deeper—there’s gold under the grit.”
🔹 Jeff Borschowa – “Don’t outsource your genius. Train AI to echo your voice.”
🔹 Steve Harper – “Quiet ripples create the biggest waves.”
🔹 Esther Deutsch – “Stop networking. Start connecting with heart.”
🔹 Chuck Newman – “Being a mensch is your greatest business advantage.”