Networking Tips – The 6 Life Building, Networking Lessons that Were Hard wired into me in the Wild Jungles of Costa Rica
By Ryan Biddulph
Well we hit a home run. He hits again the Ryan magnet was too strong to resist! The man has a way with words, and above all he has a way of sharing massive nuggets of titanium wisdom.
If you enjoyed his very own unique style of sharing what works from his life experiences of Living and blogging from Paradise. You got to have a bite of his cuisine on Blogging lessons he learned from battling exotic dangerous creatures!
So, we’re sure you had a belly full, yes, yes? Good because…
We know you will enjoy some more of his paradise jungle juice on Networking Tips!
You don’t know Ryan Biddulph? OMG, you definitely want to pop over to his world class hub and get to know the man, the legend the blogging from paradise brain box….Drum roll please!
And without further ado…Over to you Ryan!
Immeasurable pain stared me in the eyes.
A bullet ant – the creature with the world’s most painful insect sting – had climbed onto the sink….But what has this got to do with Networking Tips for beginners? Well hang on to your bootstraps while I deal with this beast…
His inch-long body and gaping jaws greeted me when I tried to do the dishes.
One dirty dish towel whip later and he flew into space, finding himself in the jungle canopy.
I avoided being bit/shot/excruciating pain for a few days.
But poison dart frogs were a dime a dozen in the place.
As were other creepy crawlies.
On the flip side, we enjoyed mornings of watching peaceful 2 and 3 toed sloths, Howler monkeys, Capuchin monkeys, toucans, oropendola and Mealy Amazon parrots chill out in the jungle canopy on the property.
For 6 weeks a while back my wife Kelli and I did a house sit in a remote Costa Rican jungle on the Caribbean side of the country.
We were a 3hour hike from humanity, needing to pass 4 streams, a mile-high mountain with a 35% grade in some spots and mud so deep and suction-like that we sometimes found ourselves buried up to our knees in the stuff.
Wouldn’t ya know I discovered 6 critical lessons for being a better networker when living in the middle of nowhere?
No matter your niche you need to become a more skilled, generous, compassionate, energetic networker to see success.
Follow these 6 tips and be sure to look over your shoulder while reading. Because ya never know. ?
HEADS UP
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Networking Tips for Business Owners #1 – Strength in Numbers
10,000 invaders assaulted the hut one morning.
I woke Kelli and told her “The exterminators have arrived. And they are working for free.”
A monstrously large colony of army ants took over the home and surrounding property, covering a 100-square meter swath around the hut.
Scorpions, centipedes, spiders, wasps and cicadas headed for the hills, sprinting from the murderous horde.
I counted 8 scorpions – which I had not previously seen – clinging to the ceiling for dear life while the soldier ants and scouts dismembered wasp larvae and any sentient being that got in their way; save Kelli and I.
The army ants attacked, butchered and ate virtually everything in the area.
I was in awe of these guys, but I also learned a sweet networking tip or lesson; there is immense, unstoppable, overpowering strength in numbers.
[bctt tweet=”There is immense, unstoppable, overpowering strength in numbers. #networkingtipsforsuccess ” username=”Juleskalpauli”]
Every single success I experienced in life flowed to me through my friends.
Without trusted, supportive friends my blog would be as dead as the scorpions that the army ants butchered.
You can only do so much as one human being. But 100, 1,000 or 10,000 friends can promote you, endorse you, leverage your presence. They can hire you, buy your eBooks, products and can become a tribe that expands your success far beyond your wildest dreams!
Serve people. Tweet people. Comment on their blogs. Help as many niche influencers and successful people in your niche as humanly possible. Many of these folks will help you in return as you befriend one another, expanding each other’s reach far and wide.
Networking Tips for small business owners #2 – Clear the Path
Every day I hacked away at heavy brush on the property with a machete.
Sometimes vegetation would grow almost an inch a day in this humid, jungle environment.
When the homeowner arrived after a few months away, he had to contend with 6 to 7 feet of vegetation around his home. He was barely able to see over the brush before he macheted the vegetation down to manageable levels.
I had to clear a path before I walked anywhere in this place.
Networkers need to clear their path too before engaging in quality, successful networking.
Here’s how: instead of commenting on any blog or working any network or using any one approach to meet and greet folks you will experiment with and let go what doesn’t work to find room for what works.
In essence, you will be clearing the path to networking success, trimming the fat to become a lean, mean networking machine.
[RECOMMENDED RELATED – NETWORKING EVENTS SUCCESS 10–STEP FORMULA]
Networking Lesson #3 – Break…or Break
I cried. Tears poured down my cheeks.
The physical and emotional breakdown was imminent. I’d pushed myself. Way beyond my mortal coil’s limits.
One day, because I was so bored and fed up with living in isolation with nothing to do I walked the Rhodesian Ridgeback (the NAVY Seals of the canine world and most intense dog I ever met, named Thunder.) We were walking for 6 hours through rugged terrain, up mountains, down streams, through dense jungle and into the next town.
After long daily walks, eating a few hundred calories a day because we could not refrigerate anything. Sleeping 3 to 5 hours nightly due to poor sleeping conditions. (Crappy plastic sheet for mattress, mosquito net, being attacked by bugs, sweating, worrying whether I’d be eaten by something. Maybe bats would fly into my head when I walked outside to take a leak while fer de lanzes and other lethal snakes waited in the woods),
I physically and mentally broke down one night.
Intense back pain. Cried like a baby.
I cleared out the lower energies. I realized that I needed a break. So, for our last week in the place, I sat in a hammock and let the dog walk herself. I literally did nothing save walking from bed to hammock, eating and using the outhouse some 40 feet away from the hut.
I didn’t take enough breaks, so my body and mind broke.
Networking dynamos know; if you don’t break, you will break. Like I did.
[bctt tweet=”Networking dynamos know; if you don’t break, you will break. #networkinglessons” username=”Juleskalpauli”]
Working from a lower energy, desperate place for 10 to 15 hours daily, for months, leads to mental problems, physical illness and totally saps your creativity.
Consider taking 1 day off from networking weekly. Break for 5 to 10 minutes every hour. Relax. Chill. Work from a fun, inspired, peaceful, loving space.
Raise your energy. Connect with leaders. Enjoy the ride. ?
Networking Tips #4 – Let Go Non-Matches Immediately
1 day a week we would head into town to buy food, so we would survive.
For the first 2 weeks that town was Puerto Viejo. But after a few visits to an overpriced, underwhelming, kinda dumpy town we decided to release on that non-match.
Instead, we paid less money for a hotel in authentic, closer Bribri. Good eats. Nice shopping. Virtually zero tourists. All Ticos.
In the networking game, you intuitively know when you have a match, and when you do not have a match. Inner world thing.
Instead of forcing your way into partnerships that were never materializing in the first place, let go of folks you don’t vibe with to make room for good, mutually beneficial matches!
The goal is not to work with or partner with as many folks as possible. The goal should be to find and connect with as many matches as possible, or people with a similar vision and positive, loving, fun energy.
Why do you think I’m writing a second guest post for Julie & Paul? They rock! Awesome energy. Julie Syl is an inspired person and her brand is about succeeding while having fun. Which is what I’m about with my life and brand.
#5 – The Sweetest Fruit/Friends Wait at the Top of the Hill

Kelli sent me to the hills. For one of our rare jungle thrills.
I’d hike even HIGHER up a hill on the property through deep, lush jungle to get sweet oranges for snacking, and for turning into fresh orange juice.
Make no mistake about it; I had to bust my ass to get up there, hacking away at foliage with a machete, sliding up and down a muddy, foot wide path on a cliff with a 50-foot drop. One day I even knifed through an army ant colony making this trek, almost falling off the cliff to avoid being stung into submission.
But the sweetest fruits were well worth the perils of the journey.
[bctt tweet=”But the sweetest fruits were well worth the perils of the journey. #Networkingtips #networkinglessons” username=”Juleskalpauli”]
All the big dawgs you hope to meet and greet in your niche are at the top of the hill and require the most generosity, mindfulness and happy hustle to connect with. No way around this; if you want to network with the big dawgs of your niche ya gotta climb that hill.
Just be thankful you don’t have to deal with army ants on the networking climb, OK? Or do ya…Watch your back I did say!
[RECOMMENDED RELATED – BLOGGING LESSONS FROM DANGEROUS EXOTIC ANIMALS ]
Networking Tips #6 – Your Best Networking Happens in Silence with Nobody Around
This one really screwed with my mind. May mess with yours too.
I generated fantabulous networking ideas for connecting with blogging big dawgs when alone, in silence, 3 hours away from humanity, as I spent 6 weeks in Buena Vista.
While staying in the jungle the Blogging from Paradise rumble was felt on Virgin, Forbes and Neil Patel.
I was featured on each world-renowned site while hacking at vines with machetes, fighting off bullet ants and traipsing through collections of poison dart frogs.
I also thought of a few neat ideas for optimizing my networking campaign, from renewing my blog comment strategy to finding a refreshed, energized fervour for guest posting again.
Sometimes, you will cyber meet and greet a ton more folks by relaxing, detaching and getting away from it all.
Your Turn
What networking tips for entrepreneurs did you learn today?
Did This Help You? If so, I would greatly appreciate if you commented below Pin/Save this post and Share on Facebook!
[RECOMMENDED RELATED – 6 SECRET TECHNIQUES TO MORE REFERRALS.]
More About Ryan Biddulph:
Ryan gave up his boxed, restricted, boring life back in New Jersey and “retired to a life of island hopping,” to inspire others to do the same through smart blogging. He has travelled all over Asia, South and Central America, Europe, and is based in Bali. In his own words:
I’ve successfully engineered an island hopping, globe-trotting lifestyle based solely on my blogging income.
I’ve been able to retire from my 9-5 job to become a full time professional blogger.
My blogging success has afforded me the ability to live for months in places like Fiji, Bali, Costa Rica, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Peru and Nepal.
My first 2 blogging eBooks were endorsed by world renowned business genius Chris Brogan, a New York Times Best Selling Author and business adviser to brands like Coca Cola, Disney, Google, GM, and luminaries like Richard Branson, Paulo Coelho and Tony Robbins.
Here is how To Get Coaching from or Work with Ryan
Love this post !!~ interesting Videos !!~~ Army Ants and Scorpions !!~ ugh !!~ than you for sharing all this
Teheheee Sandra, Ryan has a way with words and Yes his video are pretty interesting too 🙂
Great tips. I like #4 the most. Thank you for sharing.
Yup Ryan has a way with words and I must say We loved all the tips, so uniquely put. And hard to forget. Thanks for stopping by Kenny 🙂
I love how you expound your insights!
I love how you expound your insights! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mike. Appreciate you checking out the blog post.
What an amazing post .I was trying to memorize it as I read it .Who knew blogging and networking is no less than a jungle adventure.#BloggersPitstop
Hello Amrita from the Pit Stop,
So good to hear from you. Take your time and Revisit whenever you need to. Bookmark it 🙂
Julie Syl
Good deal Amrita. Thanks for stopping by and taking notes.
I love Ryans style. Thanks for sharing his wisdom today with us. The way he describes those animals…scary…LOL
Lolol Ryan has a way with words, and above all he Nails down the lesson. you never ever forget it 🙂
Good to see you here Adewale!
It was kinda scary at the time Adewale. No humans around at all!
[ Smiles ] Oh, you have just got to love Ryan Biddulph. He is filled with so much blogging wisdom!
We too absolutely LOVE Ryan style and his sense of Humour Renard
We love his giving nature and really are honoured that he chose to guest post for us.
Thanks for your time!
Hahaha Renard thanks for being there from almost….gasp….the beginning! LOL!
Julie, I just love Ryans style, fun, and truths of networking. Seeing that the Blogger’s Pit Stop has the spotlight on you this week, we will feature this post so that more people can appreciate such a quality post.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Hey Kathleen,
Thank you for stopping by from the Pit Stop. We too love Ryan’s Jungle Juice. Seriously he is a Gem in himself for sharing the way he does. Its a Talent! We love him! Lets do this! 🙂
Much appreciated Kathleen 🙂
Wow what a powerful, energising post. Always great to hear about your exploits Ryan, thanks for sharing this post.
Ryan literally paints a picture with his tale for sure. Thanks for stopping by Keith 🙂
Keith thanks a bunch.
Tip number 6 is great and totally get it! In order to progress and connect with people do it on your own with no other distraction.
Talk about it London Mumma I agree with Ryan on that front too! 🙂
Zeroing in really helps a ton LM.
Hi, Ryan and Julie.
Yes, another lovely post from Ryan. Love all the descriptive writing (stories). Makes learning fun.
I think people who do Network Marketing well are a very special bunch.
Especially if they do it and earn friendships instead of enemies. ^_^
Building relationships take time and hard work if you want long term results. It also takes authenticity.
This month I’m stepping up my commenting game. I tend to comment on low ranking blogs, but I’ll put in a strategy and following your lead.
via The Blogger’s Pit Stop
Hey Sara,
Its always good to hear from you and we love the blogger’s Pit Stop. Indeed your strategy should be focusing on Quality Posts, euthority posts and sites as you tend to attract similar people. Its the law 😀 ^_^ You got this!
Cool Sara; glad to see you blog commenting.
Thank you for linking up at The Blogger’s Pit Stop. I’m sharing your link on social media.
Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi
Hey Carol,
Glad to see you from the Pit Stop 🙂 And thanks for sharing Ryan’s awesome sauce. 🙂
Thanks a bunch Carol.
Hi Ryan,
I love how you compare everything to bugs. Great analogies. I am newly inspired to network, network, network.
Julie, I stumbled your post.
Janice
LOL Janice. Sometimes in spots like this, bugs are all I know 😉 Thanks for the Stumble.
WOW. These tips definitely are powerful. I’ve learned many lessons throughout my career, and I know for a fact that life is our greatest teacher.
Victoria,
Ryan is a prime example of how to share your story to impact and inspire others…Stories truly do sell 🙂
Life is a fab teacher Victoria, indeed.
Networking is a great way to connect with new people and to learn about business opportunities. Your tips are a key factor to that.
Networking is oh so key Elizabeth.
I enjoyed this very much. The analogies made for great visuals!. It always helps me when I can relate two ideas together as you did. Now as far as living in the jungle like that, eeks!
Teheheeee Cristi, to each their own right? Glad you got some value and appreciate the message 🙂
I do go to great lengths for my research Cristi 🙂
Very well written! Love the analogies used with nature! It’s quite a learning experience out there but hey, you definitely learned a lot of things to improve your networking skills!
Yep we have the jungle to thank for this post Carol 😉
These are some incredible tips. Networking is so important when you have any kind of blog/business. Finding others to network with, is a little bit harder but it’s so worth it!
I love the fact that you were inspired by these experiences – and they are great tips! My experience in the Bolivian jungle wasn’t quite as inspiring. 🙂
I would love to see the Bolivian jungle Ronnie.
The bugs and snakes would be my idea of a nightmare. I love that your jungle experiences have shaped your blogging and networking! I’m going to try a few of these for myself.
Thanks Helen 🙂
Ryan
I love how you took real life difficult situations and turned them around to a positive networking experience. What doesn’t break you only makes you stronger!
That’s what we admire about Ryan too Michelle.
Exactly Michelle. Those sweet lessons often wrap themselves in hairy situations 😉
Ryan
Army ants are scary!!! However, they really are the perfect example of strength in numbers.
You can say that again Czjai 🙂
Ryan has a knack of meeting these creatures and Dominating them, as divinely decreed! Cool or what 🙂
This was so evident C. Like a HUGE team all joined toward 1 purpose. A single purpose.
Ryan
Thanks as always Julie!
Ryan
The pleasure is all ours Ryan, You do bring the fun X-Factor back to Online business and Blogging. Thanks for this 5-Star cuisine, yet again on Networking Tips. 🙂
Julie Syl
These aree some great tips1 i totally agree with the “The sweetest fruits are at the top of hill” advice!
Hi Stephanie.
In life as well as in nature, the sweetest fruits are at the top. For over there there is less pollution, noise and competition. Its always better at the top. 🙂
Ryan puts it so very well.
They always seem to be there, right Stefanie?
Ryan