How do I start bringing in business when I've never done it?

Being expected to bring in business with no idea how is a lonely spot, and it helps to know the fear is almost always bigger than the task. Business development is not a dark art or a talent you are born with. At its root it is building real relationships and being genuinely useful to people, patiently, over time. If you can be curious about others and helpful to them, you already have what it takes. The mistake most beginners make is thinking they must sell, push, close. That instinct is exactly what makes it feel gross and impossible. Flip it. Your job is not to extract a deal; it is to understand people's problems and be someone worth knowing. Relationships open when you are interested and grow when you are helpful. The business follows the trust, not the pitch. So start with one person, not a pipeline. Reach out to someone you would genuinely like to know or help, with no agenda but to understand what they are working on. Ask good questions and follow up on what you learn. Do that a few times and you will feel the mechanics become human. Business development is just this, repeated — one real relationship at a time.