Networking Made Simple: David Ackert’s Proven Short List Framework for Escapees — Brett Trainor Unplugged

For most corporate escapees, networking and sales feel like the biggest hurdles to building a solo business. With hundreds of LinkedIn connections and decades of contacts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—or worse, to avoid networking altogether.

Enter David Ackert—author of The Short List and winner of the 2025 Non-Fiction Book Award. David has spent 20+ years helping professionals grow their books of business and has distilled his research into a simple, proven framework that removes the guesswork from networking.

In this episode, David shares how to replace random outreach with a focused, confidence-building system that actually drives results.

What You’ll Learn:

Why a bloated network isn’t useful—and how to focus on the 9–35 relationships that matter most
The three categories every escapee needs: prospects, clients, and connectors
How to re-engage dormant ties for new opportunities
The “14 interactions” rule and why most people quit too soon
Why doing structured free work can accelerate your first paying clients
How GenXers’ natural problem-solving and “be helpful” mindset is a superpower in building trust
Why confidence isn’t faked—it grows naturally from following a consistent system

About David Ackert

David is the President of Ackert Inc., creator of the PipelinePlus Tracker app, and author of The Short List. He has dedicated his career to helping professionals simplify business development through intentional, value-driven relationships.

👉 Connect with David:

• Website: pipelineplus.com

• LinkedIn: David Ackert

👉 Resources:

• Get your copy of The Short List wherever books are sold