Brewed for June: Flip-Flops, Follow-Ups & Fresh Starts

June often feels like a soft reset. The sun sticks around a little longer. The iced coffee hits differently. We’re trading booties and sneakers for flip flops. And conversations, when we make time for them, start to stretch out in the best way.

This month, I’m thinking about how we catch up. Not only with friends or work, but with ourselves and our intentions. Who do we want to stay connected to? Whose update deserves more than a quick “Congrats!”?

And maybe most importantly: What relationships are we ready to nurture, not just notice?

Let’s get right to it, my LinkedIn Tip of the Month. It’s simple but a lot of people overlook it. [Re]connect Through the Catch-Up Tab.

If you don’t know what the catch-up tab is yet, don’t worry, I’ve got you. When you click on “My Network”, there are two distinct tabs/feeds that you can view, ‘Grow’ and ‘Catch up’:

‘Grow’ is where most of us naturally gravitate. That is where our invitations — to connect, to attend events, to follow company pages, and to subscribe to newsletters— all reside. But if you stop there, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. And truthfully, many people who do know about it aren’t leveraging it to the fullest.

Many people scroll through LinkedIn’s “Catch Up” tab to drop a few likes or generic “Congrats!” messages. But it’s actually one of the most underrated tools for deepening relationships.

This tab surfaces updates from your connections: job changes, birthdays, work anniversaries — and it’s a goldmine for meaningful outreach.

Instead of just reacting on autopilot with a like or a celebrate try:

• Sending a personal note that references a shared memory or past project

• Asking how the job transition is going or what they’re most excited about

• Sharing something thoughtful: an article, an intro, a resource

The goal isn’t to network harder. It’s to connect better.

People remember who showed up in a meaningful way, not who just clicked “like.” And if it is someone who you haven’t connected with in a while, it’s a natural way to restart the conversation.

Something Worth Sipping On

If you’re looking to deepen your business relationships, here are two resources that I enjoyed for your next coffee break:

🎧 Podcast: Building Long-Term Client Relationships (BEP 131)
This 15-minute gem from the Business English Podcast is packed with practical phrases and real-world scenarios for turning transactional chats into relationship-building moments.
👉 Listen here

📖 Article: Why Building Relationships Is Essential to Business Success (Forbes)
A great reminder that relationships are the strategy. This piece touches on trust, consistency, and why showing up with intention always wins in the long run.
👉 Read here

And in the spirit of deepened connections and meaningful relationships, I want to extend an invitation to attend an upcoming Virtual Gratitude Experience with Chris Schembra. This is a 90 minute interactive experience with incredible impact. This will be my second session facilitated by Chris. And if I am being truthful (and I am), I had no idea how powerful that first session was going to be.

Here are a few things that participants said afterward:

"It was eye-opening, heart-connecting. It restored my faith in humanity."

"Today showed me people need hope. They need each other. They need to recognize it’s okay to not have it all figured out—I certainly do not. There are an incredible number of people that are grateful and it has filled my heart today!"

"Today reminded me of how blessed I am and how I still have so much to offer the world. It's time to stop feeling sorry for myself and get to work helping others see their blessings."

"Today was my moment to enter the unknown with an outlook of unlimited possibilities. I am leaving here grateful, seen, hugged."

How could I not ask to do a second one? Luckily, he said yes! Here are the details:

Monday, June 16th
11:00AM ET
Duration: 90 minutes

It's an interactive experience of connection, gratitude, and community, not a webinar. It is completely free to attend, zero strings attached. And I have to add, no one will be selling you anything! This is just about bringing people together and creating positive energy.

If you can join us, please reply back to me, and I will send you the calendar invite. I know it is a big commitment of 90 minutes during the workday, but it is truly worth it!

Until Next Time

Whether you're reconnecting with an old colleague or striking up a new conversation over iced coffee, I hope this month gives you a little space to slow down and show up with intention.

As always, thank you for being part of this community. Your presence here means the world to me.

See you in your inbox, and maybe on your LinkedIn feed, next month.

I'm Melissa, your go-to partner for turning LinkedIn and personal branding into real-world results. I work with executives, solopreneurs, business owners, and jobseekers to elevate their presence, grow their impact, and make meaningful connections.

Curious how we can work together? Click below or drop me a note—I’d love to hear from you.