Making friends as an adult is hard—making real connections as a business owner? Sometimes it straight-up feels impossible. In this episode, I sat down with website copywriter and all-around cool human, Maddy Aucoin (https://www.bymaddyaucoin.com/), to spill the real tea on building friendships (and finding your people) online—even if you’re more socially anxious than you let on.

>> Today's sponsor: https://www.melissamitt.com/baseline

We chatted about everything from surviving awkward Zoom coffee chats to those “am I on your spreadsheet??” DMs, plus sneaky ways to make connection way less cringey (spoiler: it includes complimenting a stranger’s fit or flexing a hot pink statement piece). Whether you want to grow your network, find actual friends, or just not feel like an internet hermit, this episode’s got gritty, real talk and zero “7-figure in 7 months” nonsense.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com

Key Takeaways:

• Take the pressure off new connections by asking curious questions and letting other people talk about themselves.

• Find your “ordinary” signature—like a colorful office wall or a daily caffeine habit—to make it easier for others to strike up a conversation.

• Keep collabs low-lift and genuine; sometimes a simple DM or friendly repost is the biggest networking win of all.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.