Episode 61: The Race to Positive Interactions - Networking When Others Do What You Do

This solo episode was inspired by a question that popped up inside Premium OKC Networking, my online platform where local business owners can find vetted places to connect across the metro. Members can ask questions, share offers, and access the Learning Tab — complete with courses and videos of every organizer featured on the networking calendar.

This week, a member asked:

“What should someone do when there are several people in their same industry at a networking meeting?”

That question sparked today’s episode.

To answer it, I walk through what I’d say to a coaching client facing that same frustration — someone like “Beth,” a photographer who feels overshadowed in rooms where two or three other photographers regularly show up. Before talking strategy, we start with mindset. And yes… that mindset comes with a very Faithann version of the Cinderella story — fairy godmother included — to help reframe the idea of “competition.”

Because here’s the truth: You’re not competing with the title on someone’s name tag. You’re building relationships through the kinds of positive interactions only you can create.

In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ Why your title doesn’t define your value

Your identity isn’t “photographer,” “planner,” “inspector,” or “agent.” Your value is your problem-solving perspective — the one thing that can’t be copied, xeroxed, or duplicated.

✨ How to win the “race to positive interactions”

Networking isn’t about eliminating competition. It’s about stacking enough positive interactions that people begin to think: “I trust you with this referral.”

✨ The Cinderella analogy that shifts your mindset instantly

If everyone in the room has the same “blue eyes,” what truly sets you apart is everything else you bring into the room — your voice, your rapport, your curiosity, your generosity, your approach.

✨ What to do when there really are too many people who do what you do

You’ll hear practical strategies including:

• Joining an industry-exclusive group (and the mindset required once you do)

• Starting your own group if no seat opens

• Using paid membership tiers within open groups to increase exposure

• Serving in leadership to create more natural interactions

• Building abundance-based relationships with others in your same industry

✨ What not to do when you’re sharing a room with your “competition”

You’ll learn:

• Why badmouthing or subtly undercutting others will always backfire

• How scarcity energy repels referrals

• How to acknowledge peers with abundance and tact

• A simple seating strategy to make pitch time more comfortable

Links & Resources

Join my Facebook community: The Networker’s Tour Guide on Facebook — I go live every week at 5 PM with networking tips and strategies.

Explore Premium OKC Networking: If you're local to Oklahoma City and want one trusted place to find vetted networking events, discussion threads, organizer videos, and networking courses — membership is just $65/year.

✨ Download Faithann’s 10 Questions to Ask in a One-to-One — a free guide to deepen your networking conversations and leave a lasting impression. Grab your copy here ➡️ https://www.thenetworkerstourguide.net/resources

Previous Episodes Mentioned in the Episode:

Episode 53 with Leah Rose Tangren

Episode 43 with Dirk Houglum