No One Gets Out Alive! Networking for People Who Hate Networking

Most clinic owners think they’re networking. Jonathan Shearer explains why they’re wrong.In this episode of No Appointment Necessary, Michael speaks with Jonathan Shearer, podiatrist and founder of Footsteps Clinic, about what networking actually looks like when it works. Not letters to GPs. Not one-off events. Not vague “being visible”.They unpack why networking fails for most clinics, how trust is built through consistency and inconvenience, and why transactional thinking kills long-term results. Jonathan traces his approach back to selling fruit and veg as a teenager, where presentation, urgency and human connection decided whether stock sold or rotted. The same principles now underpin his referral networks across sports clubs, businesses and communities.If you think networking “doesn’t work”, this episode explains exactly why.Show NotesJonathan’s backgroundNearly 30 years in podiatryNHS training, then building a five-chair multidisciplinary clinicHow early retail work shaped his focus on presentation and experienceDefining networking properlyNetworking as a sphere of influence, not an activityWhy sending letters isn’t networkingVisibility vs trustJonathan’s networking systemWhy it starts with team culture, not referralsStaff as the front-facing networkWhy owner-only networking becomes a bottleneckHow networking generates revenueReal examples from football, hockey and sports clubsWhy inconvenience builds trust faster than pitchesHow free help led to hires, referrals and new servicesThe “free work” mythWhen free help worksWhen it backfiresWhy forcing early ROI leads to bad decisionsEducation as a leverSmall talks that produced the biggest clientsWhy audience size doesn’t matterEffort and follow-up over formatMaintaining relationshipsNetworking as “watering a plant”Why neglect kills resultsHow Jonathan cuts parasitic relationshipsTeam-led networkingStaff attending events and visiting businessesWhy this needs PAYE or hybrid modelsWhy associate-only models struggleTracking what worksOffers and vouchers for offline attributionWhy “vibes” aren’t metricsMeasurement still mattersCities vs townsWhy networking works anywhere if executed properlyCities as opportunity-rich environmentsAffinity beats geographyMindsetNetworking isn’t about being extrovertedFear of rejection is the real blockerStart small, repeat, build confidenceThe 90-day resetWhat Jonathan would do in the first 90 daysVisibility, relationships, talks and clubsWhy something has to giveThey finish on collaboration, why isolation fuels bad advice, and why real networking is about being known, trusted and useful over time.What You’ll LearnWhy most clinic owners misunderstand networkingTransactional vs transformational relationshipsHow trust is built through inconvenienceWhen free help works and when it doesn’tHow to turn teams into networking assetsHow to measure offline networking properlyWhy networking works in cities and townsWhat to prioritise in your first 90 daysWho This Episode Is ForClinic owners who think networking “doesn’t work”.Owners over-reliant on ads.Clinicians who hate selling but want sustainable growth.Guest DetailsJonathan ShearerPodiatrist and founderVisit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.   Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100