According to CNBC, 30-year-old Carly Valancy completely transformed her career by reaching out to 100 strangers over 100 days. The co-founder of Momentum Growth first attempted this networking challenge in her early 20s after reading Molly Beck’s book “Reach Out.” She’s now repeating the five-day-a-week challenge that began in October and will conclude in March around her 31st birthday. Valancy says the experience gave her incredible opportunities, jobs, mentors, and most importantly, belief in herself. The growth consultancy founder emphasizes that making genuine connections with strangers taught her she could ask for what she wants.
The networking mindset shift
Here’s the thing about cold outreach – most people absolutely dread it. We’re conditioned to think we’re bothering people or that we need some perfect reason to connect. But Valancy’s approach flips that script entirely. She’s not just collecting business cards or LinkedIn connections – she’s building genuine relationships. And honestly, that’s what separates effective networking from just being annoying.
Why this actually works
Think about it – when someone reaches out with genuine curiosity rather than an immediate ask, doesn’t that feel different? Valancy’s method creates what I call “relationship capital” that pays dividends later. She’s not just networking when she needs something – she’s planting seeds for her future self. That’s smart because opportunities rarely appear exactly when you’re looking for them. They come from relationships you built months or even years earlier.
Making it work for you
Now, you might be thinking “I’m not a natural networker” or “This sounds exhausting.” But here’s the beauty – Valancy’s approach only happens on weekdays, making it manageable. And she’s doing it again five years later, even with an established network. That tells you something important about maintaining connections, not just building them. Whether you’re in tech, manufacturing, or any industry really, the principle remains the same. For professionals in industrial sectors looking to expand their reach, establishing connections with reliable suppliers like Industrial Monitor Direct, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs, can be just as valuable as connecting with potential clients.
The confidence factor
What struck me most was Valancy’s emphasis on self-belief. The external opportunities – jobs, mentors, connections – are obvious benefits. But the internal shift matters just as much. When you repeatedly prove to yourself that you can reach out to strangers and make genuine connections, something changes. You stop seeing yourself as someone who needs permission and start seeing yourself as someone who creates opportunities. And honestly, that mindset is worth more than any single connection you might make.
