As you may know, I’ll be publishing a book on professional networking.
Friends have asked me why I wrote this book. Here’s the short answer: I want to bring clarity to a subject many people find mysterious and daunting.
Everybody says that you should network. But ask 10 people what they mean, and you may receive 10 different answers.
- “This is how you shake hands at an event.”
- “This is how you reach out on LinkedIn.”
- “This is how you write an elevator pitch.”
These things may be helpful, but they are tactical and scattershot. There is no cohesive strategy or approach. It becomes a long, burdensome to-do list.
In contrast, my upcoming book presents a framework for networking with intentionality. This is not a formula or a 3-step process. Nor is it a tedious checklist to complete. Rather, it’s a way to think about relationships and develop your own style.
I call it The Five Elements of Professional Networking. The five elements include value, initiative, consistency, relatability, and credibility.
These form the core chapters of the book. In each chapter, I talk about how that element applies to networking, how to cultivate it (e.g., create value, be relatable, build credibility), and relevant ideas for personal reflection and application.
The Five Elements of Professional Networking will be published on September 2nd, 2025.
Available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Indie Pubs.
Note: If we want to be intentional in our careers, we must also do so in our relationships. To that end, I’m rebranding this newsletter into Elements of Networking to align with the book.