I think the 'always be networking' advice is wrong. Last Thursday I skipped a big mixer in Chicago and had my best client call in months.

3 comments

3 Comments

Ugh, yes. It's like we're all told to chase these big, loud connections, but the real stuff is quiet. I mean, my best work friend came from fixing a typo in her email, not some team building thing. Or how my favorite local shop owner just remembers my order, and now I tell everyone about the place. The forced, official version of connecting almost never works as well as the small, real moments.

cameronn621mo ago

Totally get that. Skipped a huge conference last year to focus on actual work. Ended up closing a deal that paid for the whole trip ten times over. Sometimes the best networking is just doing your job really well for the people who already pay you. Forced networking events can feel like a huge waste of energy. Quality over quantity every single time.

williamb291mo ago

Man, this hits home! I once drove two hours to a fancy dinner for "industry leaders." Spent the whole night talking to a guy who just wanted free advice, and my car got a parking ticket. The next morning, a regular customer called with a simple question that turned into a huge repeat order. Felt like the universe was laughing at me for leaving my desk.