Some of the best business development advice may feel like the hardest to follow. It’s not.
I had a wonderful conversation with Sally King of The Alexander Group on the Impact & Insight podcast recently—and we kept coming back to a theme that shows up again and again in my research:
The most successful people build practices that are authentic to them.
Yet a few more takeaways from our discussion:
— Build a diverse network
Not just people like you—but people who expand how you think.
— Develop a niche that actually fits you
Not what you think you should do… but what genuinely interests you and plays to your strengths.
— Strategy before tactics
Before the panels, the articles, the outreach—ask yourself:
What do I want to be known for?
— Make sure it works economically
Authenticity doesn’t mean ignoring the business side. The best practices align both.
— Reach out, and be generous when others do
Sally made a great point: one of the most rewarding parts of this stage of a career is being able to help others.
And she’s right. Some of the most meaningful conversations start with a simple, unexpected call.
Sally, always such a pleasure—next time, we’re continuing this over a drink or coffee.
