During one of the leadership trainings I led, I asked participants to share one fun fact about themselves. When it was my turn, I said:  “It’s autumn, and in my free time, I love mushroom picking.” For me, as a Polish person, this is completely normal. In my country, mushroom picking means relaxation, tradition, time with family and dozens of delicious dishes after. But for many people in the room, it sounded extraordinary and they found it fascinating.

The questions began:
💬 “Is it a sport? Are you a real champion?” – that one especially made me laugh becouse of competitive tone.
💬 “Can you recommend some good spots around Luxembourg? My girlfriend is visiting, and I’d love to try it with her!”
💬 And one lady, turning 50, said she wanted to learn a new skill for her birthday - and asked if I would go to the forest with her and teach her how to do it.

That moment reminded me of something powerful:
Networking isn’t about perfect small talk.
It’s about real curiosity and simple stories that connect us as humans.

What feels ordinary to you might be extraordinary to someone else. And that’s exactly what my work is about - stories. Because stories bring us closer, build trust, and help us feel seen. When we speak from the heart, we don’t just convince -we connect. So, next time you find yourself in a room full of strangers, remember: You don’t need the perfect pitch. You just need a story - your story.

Reflect, what’s one thing about you that people don’t know?