Estimated Runtime: ~10 minutes
Tone: Honest, reframing — like a coach who acknowledges networking
discomfort while showing a better way
Welcome to Module Four — The Network. And I want to start with a confession.
Most people hate networking. They picture awkward mixers, forced small talk, and
the uncomfortable feeling of asking strangers for favors.
Here's the good news: that version of networking is terrible. And it doesn't
work anyway. What does work is something much more natural, much more
sustainable, and honestly, much more effective. Strategic relationship building.
By the end of this module, you'll have a networking system that generates
opportunities without making you feel like a used car salesman.
You don't have one network. You have three. And understanding the difference
changes everything.
Your Operational Network is people you work with or have worked with. Current
colleagues, former teammates, managers, mentors. These people know your work
quality firsthand. They can vouch for you, refer you, and give you inside
intelligence on opportunities. Most people's operational networks are decent,
but they're not enough.
Your Personal Network is people who know you outside of work. Friends, family,
alumni from your school, people from your community. They might not understand
exactly what you do professionally, but they're invested in your success. And
they know people you don't.
Then there's your Strategic Network. This is the one most people neglect. These
are people you need to know but haven't met yet — hiring managers at target
companies, industry leaders, influential connectors. The hidden job market lives
here. The best opportunities are filled through relationships that exist in this
network.
The mistake most job seekers make is only activating their operational network.
They tell former colleagues they're looking and wait for leads. That's table
stakes. The real advantage comes from building your strategic network
intentionally.
Here's the fundamental principle that transforms networking from painful to
powerful. Give first. Always.
Most people approach networking with a taking mindset. I need a job. I need a
referral. I need information. And that energy — whether you realize it or not —
is palpable. People can feel when they're being used as a means to an end.
Flip it. Before you ask anyone for anything, ask yourself: what can I give this
person? It doesn't have to be grand. Share an article they'd find interesting.
Make an introduction between two people who should know each other. Comment
thoughtfully on their LinkedIn post. Congratulate them on a recent achievement
with a specific, genuine note.
These micro-deposits build relationship capital. And when you've built up enough
capital, making a withdrawal — like asking for a referral or introduction —
feels completely natural. Not forced. Not transactional. Just one person helping
another, which is what good relationships are.
I call this the Relationship Bank Account. You can't withdraw more than you've
deposited. And the best networkers are constantly depositing, even when they
don't need anything.
Here's the system. Fifty minutes per week. That's it. Spread across five days,
it's completely manageable. Monday, reach out to two new people in your
strategic network. Tuesday, engage meaningfully with five LinkedIn posts.
Wednesday, follow up with someone from a previous conversation. Thursday, share
something valuable with your broader network. Friday, reconnect with one dormant
relationship — someone you haven't spoken to in a while.
This isn't about spending hours at networking events. It's about consistent,
small actions that compound over time. After six weeks of this routine, you'll
have connected with over sixty new contacts, engaged with one hundred and fifty
pieces of content, and reactivated six dormant relationships. That's a
transformed network from less than an hour a week.
Strategic networking is not about who you know. It's about who knows you and how
they feel about you. Map your three networks, identify where the gaps are, start
giving before you ask, and build a sustainable weekly routine. Next lesson, we
dive into the single most powerful networking tool available to you — the
informational interview.