How the Give First Method Makes You Unforgettable at Every Event
Discover the Give First Method, the simplest and most powerful way to stand out at networking events while building trust and meaningful connections.
Networking Tips
✍️ By Debbie Balfour | WBN News |January 6, 2026 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.
Walk into any networking event and you’ll notice the same pattern:
People are scanning the room for who can help them.
People rehearsing what they want to say.
People are mentally calculating what they need next.
But the people who walk out with real opportunities? They do something radically different; they give first. The Give First Method isn’t about generosity for show. It’s a strategic mindset that positions you as someone people trust immediately. And when you do it right, you stand out without trying to.
Why Giving First Works (Even With Total Strangers)
When you walk into an event focused on helping rather than hunting, your energy shifts. You become approachable. You become memorable. You become someone people naturally gravitate toward. Because most people are used to being “sold.”
Very few are used to being supported. The contrast is powerful.
Three Ways to Give First—Without Spending Money or Extra Time
1. Share micro-expertise in real time
You don’t need to teach a seminar. Just share something useful in the moment:
• A resource
• A strategy that helped you
• A lesson learned
• A shortcut you discovered
People remember the one who simplifies their journey.
2. Offer a connection that helps them move forward
“Would an introduction to ___ be useful for you?” This single question makes you unforgettable. Introductions cost nothing but have enormous value. You become the connector, the ally, the person who lifts others.
3. Give clarity by asking grounded, thoughtful questions
People often leave events more overwhelmed than when they arrived.
You can give clarity by asking:
• “What’s one thing you’re trying to solve right now?”
• “What would make this quarter a win for you?”
• “Who do you need to meet next?”
Sometimes the greatest gift isn’t advice, it's perspective.
The Give First Method Changes the Room Around You
When you lead with a posture of contribution, you change the tone of the conversation. Suddenly, people drop the pitch. The interactions become more genuine. And people start sharing honestly because they feel you’re not trying to take anything from them.
Helping shifts the dialogue. And when you shift the dialogue, people remember you long after the event ends.
Capture What You Give Inside Your CRM
Here’s the power move: After the event, document who you helped and how.
Your CRM becomes a map of:
• Who did you introduce?
• What resources did you share?
• What guidance did you offer?
• What did they appreciate?
This creates continuity. And continuity builds trust. You’re not just giving, you’re building a relationship around the giving.
Give First. Stand Out Always.
When you adopt the Give First Method, networking stops feeling transactional and starts feeling meaningful. People remember you. People trust you. People talk about you in the best way.
In a world full of takers, the giver becomes magnetic. Be the person who gives first.
You’ll be amazed at what comes back.
Debbie Balfour | Real Estate Investing Success Coach + Podcast Host
📍 Website: www.DebbieBalfour.com
📧 Email: Debbie@DebbieBalfour.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Debbie Balfour
▶️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DebbieBalfour
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