It's good to be comfortable with who you are and what you do.
Most great companies in tech have been built by personal referrals for the first...at least 100 employees and often many more.
In the old days we used to get more referrals, because people had insurance that paid for therapy. Now they belong to HMOs, and we can only be affiliated with a few HMOs.
Consumers are taking ownership of brands, and their referral power is priceless.
Referrals aren't given easily. If you don't take the time to establish credibility, you're not going to get the referral. People have to get to know you. They have to feel comfortable with who you are and what you do.
In sales, a referral is the key to the door of resistance.