Many professionals delay networking, viewing it as a final step after establishing their platform. This is backward. Relationships are the foundation upon which a successful career or business is built, not the decorative spice added at the end. An entire business cannot be built on an unstable foundation.
Generic networking events open to anyone are often low-value. They primarily attract beginners and "takers" who are looking to extract something from you. Instead, focus on curated, invite-only events or create your own to ensure you're connecting with peers who can reciprocate value.
Focusing only on closing deals limits you to the few people who need your specific product right now. By shifting to "Always Be Giving," you can create relationships with everyone by helping them with their individual needs, which is a more scalable and effective long-term strategy.
When you give favors while secretly "keeping score," you create a one-sided agreement the other person doesn't know about. If they don't reciprocate as you expect, you become resentful, and the relationship sours. True giving must be detached from any specific outcome to be effective.
Trying to build relationships at the moment you need a job or a favor is like putting a spare tire in your car after you've gotten a flat. It's a desperate, disadvantaged position. The time to build your network is when you don't need anything from anyone.
To overcome procrastination in networking, perform this simple exercise: list the 10 people you would contact for help if you lost your job tomorrow. Then, contact them today with no agenda other than to connect. This immediately begins the process of building relationships before you're in a position of need.
In high-performance environments like Wall Street, intelligence and work ethic are table stakes. Guest Jordan Harbinger realized his only remaining competitive advantage was building a strong network. When everyone is smart and works hard, the person who is known, liked, and trusted wins.
If you are not getting invited to high-value, curated networking events, do not wait for an invitation. Create your own. By inviting people you want to know and who you think should know each other, you position yourself as a central node and a value-creator, bypassing traditional networking hurdles.