How to Set Networking Goals You Can Actually Control
By Penny Rose, CPA and Creator Tax Strategist at Penny in Your Pocket®
Most networking goals sound ambitious and vague: “Meet more people.” “Be more consistent.” “Get better at follow-up.”
And then real life intervenes. The Zoom room closes. Notes are scattered. Names blur together. Good intentions quietly evaporate.
The problem usually isn’t motivation. It’s how the goal is defined.
Most people set output goals for networking: get referrals, land clients, build visibility. The catch is that outputs depend on other people. You can’t control who remembers you, who follows up, or who needs your services this month.
What is in your control are input goals—the small, repeatable actions you take during and immediately after networking. When inputs are well designed, results compound on their own.
This is where the Tiny Habits approach is especially useful.
Tiny Habits, a behavior design method developed by BJ Fogg, focuses on making behaviors so small they’re almost impossible to skip. Instead of relying on motivation, you attach a tiny action to something that’s already happening. Consistency comes from design, not discipline.
For networking, the question shifts from “What do I want to get?” to:
What’s the smallest action I can take that makes future connection easier?
Here are three Tiny Habit recipes designed specifically for Zoom speed networking.
Tiny Habit #1: Capture Names Immediately
After I am placed into a Zoom breakout room, I will write down the names of everyone in the room.
This habit takes seconds, but it matters. Names are the foundation of connection. If you don’t capture them in the moment, the opportunity starts to fade the second the room closes.
Tiny Habit #2: Listen for One Hook
After each person finishes speaking, I will write down one specific detail I could reference later.
This isn’t a full profile. It’s a single hook—a project they mentioned, a location, a challenge, or a goal. One detail turns a generic follow-up into a human one.
Tiny Habit #3: Store While It’s Fresh
After I exit Zoom, I will add each name and their one detail to my contact or notes system.
This habit closes the loop. It prevents the classic “I’ll do this later” trap, which usually means never. You’re not creating a perfect system—just a usable one.
Notice what these habits don’t require: no forced outreach, no flawless CRM, no social overexertion. They are input goals you can complete every single time, regardless of the outcome.
Networking success isn’t about being the most memorable person in the room. It’s about showing up with intention in small moments that compound over time.
When you stop chasing outputs and start designing your inputs, consistency becomes automatic—and connection becomes inevitable.
This is the first in a short series on designing input-based networking habits—small actions that compound over time.
––––––––––
If you’re craving authentic connections with like-minded community in 2026, there’s a seat at the table for you at The Prosper Network Learn more and join us today!
