Some people are simply better at transforming casual human connections into social capital. Their network is their influence. My first career break was a simple introduction to a social entrepreneur. It led to who I am today. Networking isn’t just social leverage. It’s the art of making people remember you when they shouldn’t have to. It’s creating “pull’ so strong, opportunities orbit you, not the other way around. You make yourself impossible to ignore. Turning networking into career gold is about playing the long game: human connection, done with intent.
Start with a constellation
Think of every person you meet not as a contact, but as a star. A single star is just a point of light. But connect a few and have a constellation. Connect enough, and you have a galaxy that can change your life. Your career is not a ladder; it’s a night sky. Your job is to populate it with bright, interesting stars. That means talk to everyone. The person next to you on the plane. You might as well make the most of it if you are going to spend hours with them. Introduce yourself to the quiet ones in the corner. You’re not pitching. You’re connecting. You’re finding out what makes them light up. That’s how you connect the dots. You never know who will say, “Hey, I know a guy . . .” That’s the constellation at work. Serendipity is just what happens when your network is wide enough for luck to find you.
Give. Then give again. Expect nothing
The fastest way to kill the magic is to keep score. “How can I help you?” is my mantra. If you find a book that reminds you of someone who might find it useful? Send it to them. Hear about a project that aligns with a contact’s skills? Connect them. Your value isn’t what you can get; it’s what you can give. It builds a currency of trust. People remember generosity. They are hardwired to reciprocate. But you can’t do it by waiting for the return favor. You have to give like it’s your job. But don’t expect them to return the favor. The ROI is trust. And trust is the only currency that never inflates.
Be a person, not a profile
Nobody connects with a LinkedIn headline. They connect with a human. Talk about your failed startup. Your weird hobby. The time you made a mistake. And of course, how you bounced back. Vulnerability is a superpower. It’s the secret that bypasses the professional face and goes straight to the person on the inside. Your specific, unapologetic self is your greatest asset. Authenticity is magnetic. It draws the right people and repels the wrong ones. It’s a filter. Use it.
Get the follow-up right
You met someone great. What now? If you send a generic LinkedIn request, you’ve already lost. The gold is in the specificity. Your follow-up should reference something unique to the conversation. “Great talking about the future of work yesterday. Here’s that book or post I mentioned. No need to reply. Just thought you’d enjoy it.” That simple follow-up makes you a person. A thoughtful one. Not just a networker. You’ve added value immediately with zero ask. You’ve deposited into the trust bank. Now you’re not a forgettable face.
The goal is to be a connector
You gain more social capital by connecting other people than by connecting people to yourself. If you see a developer who needs a designer. Connect them. You hear a problem and know the right person who can solve it. You make the intro. You become a value creator. You’re the person everyone wants to know because knowing you means access to a whole world of other interesting, capable people.
That’s when you’ve truly made it.
Don’t just be interesting, be interested. Be a giver, not a taker. Be a person, not a profile. Build your circle of influence, one genuine connection at a time. The gold was never the asset you acquire or invest in. It was in the people you meet along the way.
