Bryan Daly: The Power of Epic Business Networking Guest Background Bryan Daly is a financial planner and the founder of Epic Business Connections, a networking community he built after the mortgage industry downturn in 2008 forced him to rethink how he grew his business. What started as a way to fill his calendar with clients became something much bigger. Nearly twenty years later, Epic has grown into a thriving community built on trust, learning, and genuine relationships, meeting every Thursday morning online. What Bryan and Julie Discuss Why the 2008 mortgage crisis became Bryan's turning point and pushed him toward a new path Choosing self leadership over giving up and starting something entirely new How consistent referral and networking filled his calendar with clients The unexpected friendships and sense of community that came from showing up week after week Expanding social circles as life and career continue to evolve over time A story about two members who met through the group and got married How Epic Business Connections is designed, including no dues, no fees, and no mandatory meetings The early days at Panera Bread, where 80 to 100 people would show up for breakout sessions The shift from in person meetings across South Florida to an online format after COVID What a typical Thursday morning session looks like, including breakouts and education New ideas for speed networking rounds and friendly contests for members The legendary Purple Monkey Award for the best business commercial Challenging the traditional definition of networking and what makes Epic different Connecting with people who never thought networking was for them, including skeptics Bringing charitable giving back into the group's mission going forward Launching a new website for Epic Business Connections to showcase the community An open invitation to join the free Thursday morning sessions at 8 a.m. Eastern Key Takeaways for Leaders Resilience builds legacy, and a setback can become the foundation for purpose driven impact Authentic connection creates more value than transactional networking ever could Consistent presence, not one big effort, fuels personal and professional growth over time Letting go of old beliefs about networking opens the door to real opportunity Community and relationships are at the heart of long term success and fulfillment Showing up for others builds trust, friendship, and a true sense of belonging If you have ever felt like networking was not for you, this episode is your invitation to think differently. Show up, connect authentically, and discover the opportunities, friendships, and growth that come from genuine community. This episode is great for entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders ready to build meaningful connections and step into purpose driven growth and leadership. Connect with Julie Riga: https://stacklist.app/julieriga Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone who could use a reminder that connection fuels success. #StayOnCourse #LeadershipCoach #PurposeDrivenLeadership #BusinessNetworking #AuthenticGrowth Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.