Get ready Step Up readers, because you’re in for a treat. I was lucky enough to get in touch with super busy, mega-smart Molly Beck and talk about her upcoming book, Reach Out. She gave me a sneak peek of the self-help book debuting September 28 and answered some questions for all of you, so maybe we can gain some insight into her networking brilliance. Beck not only is an author, but also the founder of a podcast creation site Messy Bun, creator of the lifestyle blog Smart, Pretty & Awkward, and a marketing consultant specializing in digital strategies. If you’ve read her piece from Forbes.com’s Mentoring Moments series in 2016 that sparked the creation of Reach Out, then you’ll understand the great idea of Reaching Out every day and be itching to read the book. While you wait with anticipation for the release, you can satiate some of that excitement by checking out www.reachoutstrategy.com and reading over the interview below.

For me personally, I also try to occasionally ‘lose’ my phone. Even little things like leaving it in another room while I have people over can help tame the constant feeling that I need to be ‘checking’ something.

Every Reach Out aims toward improving your career. Are there any networking myths you would discourage?

I’d really love to get rid the myth that everyone needs to go to networking events. People often think the “only" way to network is by handing out business cards at stuffy parties. And it’s true: there is always value in going to events where you will meet more people – but only if you follow up via email or social media after meeting IRL.

If 10 people go to an event and 9 of them exchange business cards, usually only 1 or 2 will actually follow up to stay in touch. To be memorable, stop going to every single networking event and just do a good job of following up with people at the events you actually wanted to go to.

You've been busy working on launching Messy Bun, writing this book, and continuing to Reach Out. What was your inspiration behind all of these projects and what can we expect to see from you next?

I’d love to leave a career legacy of providing tips and tools to make life easier for people: whether that’s through my blog, or my book, or consulting, or Messy Bun. I want to leave the professional world a little easier to navigate than when I found it.