Last weekend, hundreds of crossword puzzle lovers flooded a hotel in Stamford, Connecticut, for the 47th American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. This was in a recent article in the NY Times. It wasn’t just about solving brain teasers—it was about belonging. People gathered from all over the country, not just to compete but to connect, share stories, and geek out over a shared passion.

And while this event wasn’t remotely related to business, it holds a powerful lesson for entrepreneurs and small business owners:

Get out of your bubble and into the room.

Here’s why networking in person isn’t a luxury for business owners—it’s a necessity.

Related articles Top Networking Questions You Should Ask To Make Connections

Networking Is Essential to Growth

You might be the smartest marketer in your industry or the most innovative consultant on the block—but without connection, your ideas stay small. The crossword players at the Stamford Marriott weren’t just testing their skills—they were building community. They bonded over shared interests, traded tips, and created relationships that will outlast the puzzles.

It’s the same with business. Whether you run a marketing agency, lead a coaching practice, or own a brick-and-mortar shop, you can’t grow in a vacuum. Your next big idea, partnership, or sale might come from a hallway chat at a conference, not from your email inbox.

Staying With Just Your Team Isn’t Enough

Business owners often get stuck in echo chambers. They rely on their internal teams, their same Slack channels, their known mentors. But as any crossword devotee might tell you, seeing a problem through someone else’s eyes can unlock an answer you’ve been missing.

Getting out of the office—and around fresh minds—can offer the perspective shift your business desperately needs.

You Don’t Just Learn—You Give

At that crossword tournament, veteran puzzlers didn’t just compete—they encouraged newcomers, explained clues, and laughed with those who stumbled through their first grid. They weren’t just there to win; they were there to share.

Business networking works the same way. When you attend events, speak on panels, or mentor a peer, you’re not just soaking in ideas—you’re offering wisdom that can spark someone else’s breakthrough. And in doing so, you elevate your own authority, reputation, and fulfillment.

Diversity of Experience Drives Innovation

In Stamford, attendees ranged from die-hard crossword fanatics to casual puzzle hobbyists. There were cape-wearing superfans and wine-sipping wordsmiths. What united them was their shared interest—and that was enough to spark deep conversations among total strangers.

As a business owner, you grow when you hear from someone in a different industry, generation, or background. Their lens helps you see things differently. It breaks you out of your routine. That “aha” moment that redefines your pricing model, your messaging, or your operations? It may come from a casual dinner table chat at a business retreat.

Don’t Just Attend for the Content—Attend for the People

Most entrepreneurs go to conferences with one goal: learn from the speakers. And sure, the stage content matters. But often, the real value is in the lobby, not the ballroom. It’s in the post-event lunch, the elevator chat, the person sitting next to you who becomes your next collaborator or client.

Just like the crossword players comparing notes after a timed puzzle, your best ideas might emerge from decompressing with someone over coffee. And sometimes, those conversations lead to deals, partnerships, and lifelong business friendships.

Find Your Version of “Crossword Club”

The crossword event had structure, passion, and a sense of belonging—three things that can transform a gathering into something more powerful than a networking mixer.

For business owners, the lesson is simple: make attending events a regular part of your calendar. Whether it’s a mastermind retreat, industry summit, speaker showcase, or small-group dinner, create opportunities to connect. Put structure around your networking. Make it a habit, not a one-off.

Bottom Line: Show Up

You can’t outsource human connection. Zoom calls are efficient. Slack is practical. But in-person connection is transformational.

Just like crossword solvers lit up when they found someone who “gets it,” entrepreneurs light up when they find others who understand their journey—the grind, the wins, the chaos.

So go. Book the event. Join the mastermind. Say yes to the business brunch.

You never know who you’ll meet, what you’ll learn, or how it’ll change your path.

And just like those puzzle lovers in Stamford, you might discover that the most valuable part of the experience isn’t the challenge—it’s the connection.