Whatever it is you need to grow your small business, you don't need to do it alone. There's a community of people that are ready to help you. But, you must be heard above the many others who are also making requests.

To do this, craft an elevator pitch that tells people what you do and what you need. The more specific you can be in your ask, the more likely you are to get help. You may want to meet Fortune 500 executives, but it's much more effective to ask to meet John Smith in the marketing department of company xyz.