Yep... That’s me (below). My name is T.J. Lyons.
I’m a painfully shy introvert with crippling social anxiety, and honestly, this photo captures my worst nightmare.
There I am, at a prestigious dinner with top industry executives, when suddenly, I’m asked to say a few words.
I’m a painfully shy introvert with crippling social anxiety, and honestly, this photo captures my worst nightmare.
There I am, at a prestigious dinner with top industry executives, when suddenly, I’m asked to say a few words.
Naturally, my first instinct is to shrink away in embarrassment and refuse. But… as you can see, I took a deep breath, stepped up, and spoke.
I was calm, articulate, I held the room’s attention, and even got some laughs.
In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
So, how did I go from being the person who dreaded social situations to becoming a networker who’s generated millions in revenue and built connections at the highest levels of my industry?
It all comes down to one thing: when being in group situations doesn’t come naturally, you overthink everything:
This hyper-self-awareness pushed me to create a system that initially helped me survive leading meetings and engaging with group dynamics in business settings.
I’ve spent my entire career in business and business development, so I didn't really have a choice... And in spite of my lack of social prowess, for the past decade, I’ve run an agency that has generated over £100m in new business for our clients.
Through extensive training, hands-on experience, managing sales teams, and coaching others, I was forced to develop a foolproof system to identify, approach, and engage prospects—not just for my own business, but for my clients as well. This process became the foundation for how I approached networking.
Over time, I shifted from merely surviving to actually thriving, and my success didn’t go unnoticed. Clients began asking me to train their teams on the same principles, which led me to create a workshop I called "The Unsociable Networker."
I was calm, articulate, I held the room’s attention, and even got some laughs.
In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
So, how did I go from being the person who dreaded social situations to becoming a networker who’s generated millions in revenue and built connections at the highest levels of my industry?
It all comes down to one thing: when being in group situations doesn’t come naturally, you overthink everything:
- How am I standing?
- Have I been looking at that person for too long?
- Do I look awkward?
- Maybe if I hold this glass, I’ll look less nervous...
This hyper-self-awareness pushed me to create a system that initially helped me survive leading meetings and engaging with group dynamics in business settings.
I’ve spent my entire career in business and business development, so I didn't really have a choice... And in spite of my lack of social prowess, for the past decade, I’ve run an agency that has generated over £100m in new business for our clients.
Through extensive training, hands-on experience, managing sales teams, and coaching others, I was forced to develop a foolproof system to identify, approach, and engage prospects—not just for my own business, but for my clients as well. This process became the foundation for how I approached networking.
Over time, I shifted from merely surviving to actually thriving, and my success didn’t go unnoticed. Clients began asking me to train their teams on the same principles, which led me to create a workshop I called "The Unsociable Networker."
My Journey to Becoming a Successful Networker has Given me a Deep Understanding of How You Feel in Networking Situations.
You dread small talk—not just because it feels awkward, but because you struggle to steer the conversation and, worse, don’t know how to exit gracefully.
Or even worse, you get stuck with what I call "the pitcher"—the person who locks eyes from across the room, noticing you are standing alone, zooms in on you, and before you know it, you're trapped in a never-ending monologue about their business.
At the end of the night, you’re sitting on the train, flipping through a stack of business cards, wondering if this whole networking thing is actually worth the effort.
Maybe events just aren’t your thing. So you try booking meetings through LinkedIn or personal introductions, thinking it’ll be different.
You sit down for a coffee, have a “great” conversation… and then they vanish.
No follow-up. No second meeting. Just silence.
The good news is, it doesn't have to be this way.
There are simple systems you can use to network effectively to consistently generate new business and referrals—without awkward small talk at events and, best of all, without ever being ghosted again.
A single meeting could change your life... Maybe this is the one.
You dread small talk—not just because it feels awkward, but because you struggle to steer the conversation and, worse, don’t know how to exit gracefully.
Or even worse, you get stuck with what I call "the pitcher"—the person who locks eyes from across the room, noticing you are standing alone, zooms in on you, and before you know it, you're trapped in a never-ending monologue about their business.
At the end of the night, you’re sitting on the train, flipping through a stack of business cards, wondering if this whole networking thing is actually worth the effort.
Maybe events just aren’t your thing. So you try booking meetings through LinkedIn or personal introductions, thinking it’ll be different.
You sit down for a coffee, have a “great” conversation… and then they vanish.
No follow-up. No second meeting. Just silence.
The good news is, it doesn't have to be this way.
There are simple systems you can use to network effectively to consistently generate new business and referrals—without awkward small talk at events and, best of all, without ever being ghosted again.
A single meeting could change your life... Maybe this is the one.