The Art of Networking

"I hate the idea of networking, it feels so fake. You're basically just shmoozing people to try and get something out of it for yourself."

^ That was me looking for work in my years after grad school, and failing at it pretty bad.

The way I see it today:

Creating a strong network isn't about trying to impress people with small talk in the hopes that they'll open a door for you somewhere down the line. It's about bringing your genuine self to the table and sharing your experience, passion, and aspirations freely with another person. If you're lucky, you'll run into someone who will hear you and see you, and choose to share their true selves as well, forging a meaningful connection with you that goes beyond that initial meeting.

It's about creating and maintaining relationships that dive deep beyond the surface. It's work, yes, but rewarding work. The connection itself, not what you get out of it, is the reward.

And maybe, just maybe, some day you can help each other out in a way where you both know that it was never about that in the first place.