Diane Darling
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Diane Darling on Mastering the Art of Connection

Relationships are key to success, and author and speaker Diane Darling, founder of Skills4Today (dba Diane Darling), teaches professionals the communication skills necessary to build lasting business relationships. Diane’s programs empower individuals to create meaningful networks and discover opportunities. Whether leading a workshop, delivering a keynote, or coaching one-on-one, Diane equips her audiences with the tools for a successful career.

Tell us about your work

I’ve been told that people see me as a pioneer in teaching professional networking for 25 years, and 2000 was before LinkedIn existed. Hard to imagine how different it was back then. I love that I can help others grow and succeed.

What inspired you to start your business?

I had no intention of starting a business. I was volunteering to teach a workshop at a nonprofit, and the attorney for the nonprofit encouraged me to incorporate and start the business. She said more people need to know about my work. Naively I thought, no problem, that’s simple. Little did I know how challenging it is to be an entrepreneur.

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How do you differentiate your company from other similar offerings?

I’m different in that I focus on internal networking versus social networking). My programs work well for companies looking to recruit and retain top talent. People want to feel they have a career path and networking within a company is key to that.

What’s one mistake you made early on in your business, and what did you learn from it?

One mistake? I’ve made many. One is being too optimistic about getting clients. I’m so optimistic that I think a call inquiring about my speaking calendar means they’re going to book. I’m so optimistic that my content is so good that I can slack on how I look.

I NEVER want to give up my optimism. I DO, however, need to be more realistic about closing rates, judging a book by its cover (or a speaker by their clothes).

Describe your company in three words.

People. Time. Money.

What’s your proudest business milestone so far?

One of my proudest business moments is having my book, “The Networking Survival Guide Networking Survival Guide: Practical Advice to Help You Gain Confidence, Approach People, and Get the Success You Want” published by McGraw-Hill.

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What excites you about your work?

Seeing people respond when they get a new concept. For example, I am passionate that networking is relational, not transactional. Recently I was doing a workshop for a scaffolding company. They talked about meeting bankers at events, and they avoid them since they didn’t see any use in spending time with them.

I explained that the bankers could be well worth their time because they’re financing projects and know what’s coming down the pipeline. “Wow, hadn’t thought about that” is what I often hear.

What’s a business myth you’d love to bust?

That networking is easy and it’s free!

Who’s a female entrepreneur that inspires you?

Brene Brown is one of the most inspiring people for me. She’s an authentic, classically trained academic and researcher. She knows her stuff, is her stuff, lives her stuff. She’s not packaging.

What advice would you give to other female entrepreneurs?

Learn how to be a compelling public speaker – it’s essential for success!


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About the author

Suzanne Drapeau

Suzanne Drapeau taught writing at the high school and college levels for 30 years and recently joined Carlton PR & Marketing. She spends her “free” time working/volunteering for the Hyperemesis Education and Research (HER) Foundation, where her main role is managing social media and building partnerships with other maternal health nonprofits. She lives in Michigan but hopes to become a digital nomad when her children finish their educations.

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