Stop surfing the Internet at home

By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter

EP 3084 This video breaks down a simple yet powerful alternative strategy designed to require a “fundamental shift” that stops you broadcasting yourself in your home and puts you directly into the room where it’s actually happening.

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Okay, let’s get right into it. If you’re an executive or anyone who takes their career seriously, you know that networking is crucial. This is an important part of the game.

But what if I told you that most of us are doing it a little backwards? We’re going to break down a simple yet incredibly powerful strategy to get you out of behind your desk and into the room where things actually happen. Does this sound familiar? You know, you spend hours crafting those perfect LinkedIn messages, sending emails, and it feels like you’re yelling into the void. It’s a chore, right? You feel like you’re getting very little reward for your time, and honestly, it’s just exhausting.

If your social network feels more like busy work than building real relationships, you’re definitely not alone. So here’s an idea that can completely change your entire approach. It’s that simple.

See where the other executives are. It’s a radical shift away from just live streaming from home and instead putting yourself in the middle of an event, either physically or virtually. This sounds too obvious, but many of us forget this rule.

Let’s give it a name. We call this the “visibility principle.” Now, this isn’t just about showing off any old thing.

No, this is about strategic visibility. Think about it. Which is more powerful, sending a hundred cold emails to Ethereum or being one of 20 people on a high-value executive roundtable? One is about quantity.

The other is about influence. It’s about being in the right room. Okay, we’ve got the principles, but what does the right room actually look like in practice? Where are these places? Let us create a concrete roadmap for you, starting where it’s easiest to get started.

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So think of these as your base layers. These are open arenas. You have big industry conferences, and yes, virtual conferences are important too, packed with your peers.

Then there are executive roundtables and smaller peer groups that provide a more focused environment. Hey, don’t sleep on a webinar, especially one hosted by a private equity firm or a major thought leader. They appeal to a very specific, very ambitious group of people.

These are great starting points. Being seen is one thing, that’s the first step, but being remembered is the real goal. In order to create deeper, more meaningful connections, you have to go beyond the big open fields.

It’s time to start looking for a more curated, unique space. Now we are talking about the inner circle. These groups are typically high-commitment groups, sometimes invitation-only, such as YPO, Chief, or Vistage.

See, they’re unique for a reason. They are designed to create a high-trust environment filled with vetted peers. Entering these rooms is not just to be seen, but to be accepted into a community where the strongest relationships are built.

So you know what to do, you know where to go, you’ve entered the room. Amazing. Now the important part is how.

How do you truly make your presence count? The good news is that it’s not as complicated or scary as you might think. Well, I hope you can really relate to this next thought, because it will be a huge relief to a lot of people. You don’t have to speak to be seen.

Let me say it again. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room. This is your official license to relax.

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Being seen means a different, more thoughtful engagement. It all comes down to this very simple three-step method. The first step is to show up directly.

Seriously, that’s half the battle. Step two, engage thoughtfully. This doesn’t mean you have to give a speech.

It could be just listening intently, asking a really insightful question, or connecting with others in the room. This is to add value, not noise. Then the third step is to follow up consciously.

A specific personal note that references your conversation is worth a thousand generic LinkedIn requests. So if you take away one thing, it’s this. We are completely flipping the script.

We’re moving from passive outreach (you know, the endless emails on your desk) to proactive presence. There’s a difference between hoping someone stumbles upon your digital signal and making sure the right people see you where it matters and actually make a lasting impression. The strategy is clear and the steps are simple.

You’ve got the what, where and how. The only thing left to do is, well, do it. So my real question to you is, where will you choose to show up next?

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