Mastering Networking with Mindy Jones

The CATALYST recently hosted its second offering of Mastering Networking with Mindy Jones of The Amy Jones Real Estate Group—and once again, it delivered meaningful, practical strategies for intentional relationship building. This hands-on, interactive session challenged participants to rethink the way they approach networking, focusing not just on what they do, but on how they connect.

Networking is more than a business card exchange or a quick elevator pitch. As Mindy emphasized, it’s about creating relationships, building trust, and sparking genuine connection. Participants explored how purposeful questions lead to conversations, conversations lead to relationships, and relationships lead to opportunities—and ultimately, business growth.

One key takeaway? Preparation is everything.

Have you ever left an event thinking, “I should have said…” or “I wish I had talked to…”? Those shoulda, coulda, woulda moments are often the result of showing up unprepared with the “I’ll just wing it” mentality. While spontaneity has its place, it can keep “good” from becoming “great.”

One powerful exercise introduced was setting tiered outcomes for events:

• Level 1 – Minimum Outcome: The baseline success. Maybe you simply showed up or made one new connection.
• Level 2 – Moderate Outcome: You gained something more—met a few new people, learned something, or made a stop at your favorite Gilbert coffee shop along the way.
• Level 3 – Maximum Outcome: You made a connection that leads to a collaboration, referral, or business opportunity. You checked every box and then some.

By planning ahead and setting different levels of desired outcomes, participants felt more equipped to approach events with clarity and purpose.

Participants also learned to reframe how they introduce themselves and their businesses to inspire quality conversation. Instead of defaulting to a job title or company name, the goal is to spark curiosity—about who you are, what you do, and why it matters.

This reframing included:

• Defining what networking on purpose means personally
• Brainstorming intentional conversation starters
• Identifying common questions like “What do you do?” and creating more engaging, story-driven responses that help you learn more about the other person so you can relate more to the other person

The focus? Curiosity. Ask questions that invite deeper dialogue—“When was the last time you…?” or “How much do you know about…?” Curiosity builds empathy, and empathy creates connection.

Participants were also encouraged to reflect on how they want to be perceived. What three to five words would you want people to use to describe you after an event? This exercise emphasized the importance of showing up with intentional energy, knowing how you want to make others feel.

As with anything worth mastering, the journey doesn’t stop after one workshop. Participants were reminded that small changes, practiced consistently, lead to powerful results over time. Whether you’re new to networking or looking to deepen your relationships, applying these techniques can reshape your approach and elevate your impact.

Be sure to check The CATALYST calendar regularly for upcoming workshops and events that will keep you growing, connecting, and mastering your purpose-driven path.