20 days of Building a Network That Works For You Day 1: Relationships Are Currency A friend of mine once called me in tears. She had missed out on her dream role. Not because she lacked skills. She was brilliant and qualified. But when the opportunity came, it went to someone else, someone less qualified but connected. I watched her work hard for years, believing expertise alone was enough. I advised her to start building relationships in her industry, but she didn’t listen. She thought networking was unnecessary. Until reality proved otherwise. Eventually, she came back, ready to learn. She began: ✅ Showing up where industry leaders gathered (online & offline). ✅ Commenting with insight, not just scrolling. ✅ Sharing value and celebrating others publicly. ✅ Staying connected, even when she didn’t need anything. The next opportunity? She didn’t chase it. It found her. Your network is your currency. Skills will qualify you, but relationships will position you. Most people wait until they need opportunities before they start networking. By then, it’s often too late. Build relationships before you need them, so they will be there when you do. Have you ever missed opportunities and seen others get it to simply because they had the right connections? --- I’m Kate Orock, Networking Coach. I help professionals connect, grow, and leverage their network for career success. I’ve also authored Network Like a Pro, your practical, clear guide to building meaningful professional relationships. DM me if you’re ready to start networking intentionally and want a copy of the book. #Networking #CareerGrowth #NetworkLikeAPro #ProfessionalDevelopment #RelationshipsAreCurrency