In today’s episode of Creative Business Mindset™, I’m talking about something that so many creative entrepreneurs quietly struggle with but rarely say out loud: why networking feels so exhausting and what you’ve been getting wrong about it.
You’ve been in that room before. Maybe you’re that person. I know I was. Walking into a networking event with your elevator pitch rehearsed, business cards ready, scanning the room for the “right” people to talk to. Every conversation feels like a transaction waiting to happen and before you even get halfway through the room, you’re already drained.
Here’s the truth: it’s not the room that’s exhausting you. It’s the mindset you walked in with.
In this episode, I break down how we’ve been taught to approach networking like a sales event and why that approach is quietly sabotaging your ability to build real relationships, the kind that actually grow your business. Because nobody likes being sold to and yet that’s exactly the energy we walk in with.
Instead, I want to offer you a different way to think about networking. Not as a strategy or a performance, but as a social skill, one you already learned long before business was ever part of your life. This is about genuine curiosity, real presence and actually getting to know people beyond what they do.
Because the truth is, you don’t earn your place in a room by what you hand people. You earn it by how you make them feel.
I share how shifting from a “what can I get?” mindset to a “who can I connect with?” The approach completely changed how I show up in rooms and how it can do the same for you. When you let go of the pressure to perform and focus on being present, conversations become easier, more natural and far more meaningful.
Here’s what I break down in this episode:
✅ Why networking feels draining when you lead with a sales agenda
✅ The difference between transactional energy and real connection
✅ Why people can feel your intention before you speak
✅ How to approach networking like a social skill, not a performance
✅ Why one meaningful conversation is enough
✅ Why the goal is the conversation… not the business card
Sometimes the shift isn’t doing more.
It’s doing it differently. When you walk into a room to connect instead of to sell, everything changes. Conversations feel easier. People lean in. And business becomes a natural byproduct of real relationships.
So next time you walk into a room, ask yourself:
Am I here to give… or to get?
Because that answer will shape everything.
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www.jokedurojaiye.me
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What is Business Therapy™ With Joké?
Formerly Creative Business Mindset Podcast™
Welcome to Business Therapy™ with Joké, where we separate the math from the drama so creative entrepreneurs can build profitable businesses with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Joké Durojaiye, is a mom of three, Certified Life Coach, Author, serial entrepreneur and a business strategist who has lived through the real, messy middle of building businesses from the ground up. This podcast goes beyond surface level success and into the honest conversations around fear, visibility, burnout, reinvention, leadership, and what it actually takes to grow something sustainable.
If you are tired of guessing your way through business, overworking, or feeling stuck between your talent and profitability, you are in the right place.
Here, we talk about the mindset behind the money, the systems behind the success, and the emotional patterns that can either move your business forward or keep you playing small.
Whether you are a creative entrepreneur, home stager, designer, coach, speaker, or someone building a purpose driven brand, expect candid conversations, practical strategies, and real life stories designed to help you attract aligned clients, increase your income, and grow without losing yourself in the process.
This is not about overnight success. This is about building a business and a life that actually fit together.
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Disclaimer: Business Therapy with Joké™ and Creative Business Network™ do not guarantee specific results and are not responsible for any business, financial, or personal decisions made based on the information shared on this podcast. The content reflects the personal experiences, opinions, and insights of the host and guests and is intended for educational and inspirational purposes only. Please consult qualified professionals for financial, legal, tax, medical, or mental health advice specific to your situation.