Cast. Connect. Catch.

I’ve led marketing teams filled with deep thinkers and bold talkers, and the common thread in every successful campaign wasn’t personality. It was connection.
Authentic relationships build trust. And trust builds everything else.

I was reminded of that truth on a recent trip to North Fork Ranch in Shawnee, Colorado. My husband and his mom had met a group of fellow anglers on a fishing trip to Argentina the year before. I hadn’t been part of that adventure, so when we joined them for a weekend reunion, I didn’t know what to expect.

Would we click?
Would I find my rhythm in this new circle?

What I don’t always say out loud is this: even though I may seem like an extrovert, situations like this still make me pause. Walking into a group where everyone already has shared history can feel intimidating. New people. New dynamics. New stories I wasn’t part of.

It’s the same feeling that comes with starting a new job, joining a new team, or stepping into an unfamiliar room.
Exciting, yes.
But also a little scary.

Standing there in Colorado, I felt it. The nerves. The hesitation. That quiet inner question: Will I fit in here?

So I told myself what I’ve told myself many times before.
Take a deep breath.
Be yourself.
Put yourself out there.

Cast the line.

And over the course of a few days, on the riverbank, on the back deck, and in the moments shared between casts and conversations, something shifted.

I got to know them. Really know them.

What I found was a group of thoughtful, fun, insightful, and caring individuals. Some seasoned anglers. Some still learning to read the water. All in. All human. All heart.

By the end of the weekend, I felt like I’d known them for years. Much like a well-cast line, our connection found its drift. Effortless. Natural. Strong enough to hold.

It reminded me how quickly relationships can form when we’re willing to make the first move.

No agenda.
No titles.
Just curiosity and a willingness to show up.

The same is true at work.

Sometimes we’re thrown into projects with people we don’t know. Sometimes the current feels unpredictable. Sometimes we cast again and again, wondering if we’ll ever get a bite.

And then something clicks.

A shared win.
A moment of trust.
A simple “I’ve got you” when it matters.

Suddenly, you’re not just working side by side. You’re in rhythm. You’ve built trust.

Strong teams aren’t built on sameness. They’re built on shared experience. Showing up. Listening. Staying in it long enough for connection to take hold.

I’ve seen it time and again, on rivers and in boardrooms.

When you build trust, things flow.
When you listen, people open up.
When you cast with intention, you often catch more than you imagined.

Sometimes that catch is a breakthrough idea.
Sometimes it’s a teammate who feels seen.
And sometimes, it’s a handful of new friends you’ll carry with you long after the trip ends.

Relationships fuel results.

So, whether you’re stepping into a new role, a new team, or an unfamiliar room, remember this:

Take the breath.
Cast the line.
See what comes back.

It’s not always about the catch.
It’s about the connection.

And…

Turns out, I’m pretty good at building relationships. Fly fishing, however, is still a work in progress.