Networking is powerful. It can open doors, create introductions, and offer you a seat at tables you wouldn’t reach on your own.
But here’s the truth: relationships may get you in the room, but they won’t keep you there.
What sustains opportunity is preparation , consistency , and character .
It’s your work ethic —not just your connections—that determines whether you last.
Too many young professionals are chasing visibility without substance.
They’re looking for someone to “plug them in” before they’ve put in the reps that build skill , credibility , and trust .
I learned this the hard way early in my career.
A mentor introduced me to a senior leader at a company I admired. That meeting turned into a job interview. I thought I had it in the bag—after all, I had the connection, right?
But during the interview, it became clear: I wasn’t ready. I had the ambition but not the preparation. I couldn’t speak confidently to the work. I hadn’t sharpened my skills enough to match the opportunity I was asking for.
I didn’t get the role—and honestly, I shouldn’t have.
It was humbling, but it was also clarifying. From that moment on, I shifted my focus: less on who could open doors for me, more on being the kind of person who would deserve to stay once the door opened.
That season of grind— learning , failing , growing —is what built the foundation for every opportunity that came after.
Now, when the right doors open, I walk through them ready.
The truth? Grind makes favour sustainable .
If you’re not excellent when you arrive, the opportunity won’t matter.
So yes—build your network.
But first, build yourself.
Master your craft. Show up prepared. Deliver when it counts.
Then—and only then—let your relationships amplify the value you’ve already built.
💬 What’s one area of your craft you’re committed to mastering this year?
💬 Which one do you rely on more—grind or connections? Why?
