Think of the Web As a Collaborative Progress, Not Using Someone Else to Move Forward.
The idea of networking can seem sloppy at times, and you might not be doing it right . If you think networking is about using someone to move forward, you are wrong. It’s about building a community of like-minded friends so you can make progress together.
I went to a writing lesson a few years ago and our teacher discussed the importance of building relationships. He explained what he had noticed over the years over the years:
When one of them succeeded, everyone in the group was successful. So it’s not about using anyone; it’s about making progress and moving forward together.
In other words, they help each other move forward. As you move forward, the people around you do the same, and ideally vice versa. As our own Alan Henry put it, “professional networks” are just code for “friends who are willing to help each other professionally.”
If you have a natural aversion to networking, you might want to rethink how you think about it in these terms. We’ve also written a guide on how to do this, so check it out here.