The Brunch That Wasn’t What I Expected

For the past few months, I’d been getting email invites to something called a “Friday Networking Brunch.” I was never available—until this month. I figured, why not? I could use a break from my screen, maybe meet some new people, and hey… pancakes.

The brunch was at IHOP. In my town, the local IHOP has a private party room, which is apparently where serious business happens (surrounded by laminated menus and the smell of syrup).

When I walked in, there were about eight people making small talk. I slipped into classic networking mode—smile, handshake, quick introductions. So far, so good. I met a financial planner. Then a guy who runs an autoshop. Decent start.

Next, I meet someone who says they work with a law firm.
“Nice,” I say. “I just finished a project for a law firm. Which one?”
“LegalShield,” he says.

My inner voice goes: Uh-oh. MLM alert.

He introduces me to his wife, also with LegalShield. She points out three more people across the room.
“They’re with LegalShield too.”

Now I’m doing the math: five people from the same company, one mechanic, and a financial planner. Not exactly the mix I was hoping for. But I’m already here. Worst case? I get a funny story and maybe some pancakes.

Then the host announces we’ll each get five minutes to introduce ourselves. If you’ve been to a networking event, you know 30 seconds is the norm. Five minutes feels like a TED Talk.

The financial planner and the autoshop guy go first. They each take about 90 seconds. When it’s my turn, I stand up and joke, “I’ll use their leftover time and talk for 12 minutes.”

Big laugh. Ice broken. I give my usual 60-second pitch and sit down.

Then the guest speaker begins. Any guesses?

Yep. A full 30-minute pitch on why LegalShield is amazing—and how you can become an associate. At that point, I glance back at the invite. It didn’t say “Networking Brunch.” It said: Business Owners Meeting.

Which is code for: MLM recruitment event.

I think about leaving, but I’m 6’4”—stealth isn’t really an option. So I stay.
After all, I was promised pancakes.

Except… no one ever took our order.
No pancakes. No bacon. Just coffee, sales pitches, and disappointment.

A Lead Hiding in Plain Sight

When the meeting ends, I say a quick “Nice to meet you all—got another meeting” and head for the door.

But before I can leave, the financial planner stops me.

“Hey, do you help with social media?”
“I do, actually.”
“Let’s talk next week.”

Turns out, we’d crossed paths before. I had cold-emailed him about a year ago. He didn’t reply, but I added him to my drip campaign. Six months ago, he even invited me to respond to an RFP (I declined—because RFPs). But there was a history. And now, here we were. Face to face. At IHOP.

Sometimes, the one person who’s ready to work with you is sitting in the middle of an otherwise forgettable meeting. You never know when someone’s timing will finally line up with your follow-up.

Why It’s Still Worth Showing Up

Even a frustrating or underwhelming event can lead to something valuable. When you’re self-employed, networking is about more than just handing out business cards or landing a new client on the spot. It’s about visibility, consistency, and connection.

Sure, it might feel awkward. It might be a waste of time. And yes, sometimes there are no pancakes. But over time, those small, seemingly pointless moments stack up. They help people remember you. They create context. They build trust.

And every once in a while, they lead to real work.

Reader Takeaways

• Show up, even if it feels awkward – You never know who you’ll meet.

• Follow-up matters – Even if you don’t get a reply, people remember you.

• Opportunities come in disguise – Some events surprise you in a good way.

• Timing is everything – The right moment might take months (or years).

It’s easy to write off a slow or strange networking event as a waste of time, but sometimes those small moments build trust in the background. When you work for yourself, staying visible is part of the job—even when it’s uncomfortable. Real relationships often start long before the actual work begins.

A Final Thought

Every time you put yourself out there, you’re building momentum—even if it doesn’t feel like it right away. Keep showing up, keep planting seeds, and trust that the right opportunities will meet you when the timing is right.

Want more stories and mindset shifts for your solo(ish) life?

Join the Solo(ish) newsletter. It’s real talk for the self-employed—no hype, no fluff. Just honest insights and practical ideas for running your business your way. Sign up here