You Don't Hate Networking - You Hate This

Rafael Martino
Oct 25
2 min read

You hate networking events and you're not alone. But here's the thing: you don't actually hate networking. You hate what you think networking is supposed to be.

Watch the full breakdown:

The Wrong Way to Network

Many people approach networking events like treasure hunters - looking for that perfect connection who will change their career or hand them their next big deal. That's like searching for a needle in a haystack and then feeling frustrated when you don't find it.

This transactional approach turns networking into an uncomfortable sales pitch where everyone feels like they're being used.

What Networking Actually Is

Collecting different perspectives: When you hear how a marketing manager in healthcare approaches problem-solving, you can apply those insights to your own work. When you learn how a start-up founder thinks about risk, it expands your decision-making toolkit.

Seeing the world through different lenses: Each conversation gives you a new way of understanding challenges, opportunities, and solutions. You're not there to find your next business partner - you're there to upgrade your thinking.

The Social Capital Factor

Having a network of 500 connections versus five creates completely different opportunities. It's like having 500 LinkedIn followers versus five - the social weight and future opportunities that come from that expanded network have real value, even if you can't measure it immediately.

The kinetic energy of those connections exists whether you use it today or not. When you launch your next project or need insights from a specific industry, that network becomes incredibly valuable.