Outside the Box Networking Tips

​I feel you on BNI—the strictness and the constant tracking can feel like a part-time job itself, even if the results are there.

​You’re already winning with the wrapped vehicle. That passive, everyday visibility is huge for building long-term brand awareness in your local circles.

​I’ve spent over 30 years in industrial maintenance, commercial facilities, and regional engineering management. Over the decades, managing multi-site portfolios and dealing with large-scale commercial assets, I’ve learned that the standard "hand out a business card at a mixer" approach barely scratches the surface.

​If you want to take things to the next level without the rigid politics of traditional groups, here are a few outside-the-box things that have worked incredibly well for me from the facilities and operations side:

• ​Target the "Multipliers" with real operational value: Instead of hunting for individual jobs, find the people who manage high-value portfolios. Go directly to commercial property managers, regional facilities directors, and commercial realtors. Don't just give them a pitch; speak their language. When I talk to property managers, I offer a guaranteed "priority emergency slot" for rapid-turnaround exterior cleaning or structural upkeep so they can hit their inspection deadlines or listing windows. One solid property manager can feed you dozens of commercial jobs a year.

• ​Leverage B2B partnerships with complementary trades: Build a tight, informal network with independent contractors who are already on-site before or after you—like commercial painters, roofers, landscapers, and masons. When you build a solid relationship with a local contractor, you can trade leads seamlessly. If they’re doing a massive commercial painting or renovation project, they almost always need a reliable pro to prep the surfaces first. It’s a natural win-win.

• ​Flip the script and host your own "casual" asset-manager mixer: If you hate the rules and fines of traditional networking groups, create your own sandbox. Invite a handful of local service pros, tradespeople, commercial property technicians, and local vendors to grab a coffee or a beer once a month at a local spot. No strict agendas, no forced referral tokens—just a casual space to talk shop, swap vendor recommendations, and talk about the realities of running a business in the area. Because you're the one bringing everyone together, you naturally become the go-to hub for that network.

​At the end of the day, whether you're dealing with a single storefront or a multi-million dollar commercial property, people refer business to the people they actually like, trust, and know can handle the technical scope of the job. Keeping it authentic and focusing on how you can protect their asset's bottom line will always pay off down the road.