{"id":210,"date":"2025-07-21T18:07:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T18:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/?p=210"},"modified":"2025-08-01T23:39:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T23:39:31","slug":"the-golden-rule-of-networking-give-first-without-expectation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/blog\/2025\/07\/21\/the-golden-rule-of-networking-give-first-without-expectation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Golden Rule of Networking: Give First, Without Expectation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There\u2019s no shortage of advice for job seekers these days, and something I read recently reminded me of an older blog post I wrote. Its theme was simple: shift your focus from what others can do for you to what you can offer them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This idea came up in a 2013 New York Times<\/em> story about generosity and success[1], as well as in a LinkedIn article that introduced what it called the \u201cGolden Rule of Networking.\u201d[2] The message was clear: lead your interactions with value rather than with expectation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can I<\/em> Do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you meet someone new, ask yourself, \u201cHow can I help this person?\u201d That help might come in the form of an introduction, a resource, a bit of advice, or simply a thoughtful conversation. Starting relationships this way often leads to more authentic and lasting connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe this principle is sound and aligns with how strong professional relationships are built. Still, it made me pause. In the Times<\/em> article, the person profiled was known for saying \u201cyes\u201d to nearly every request. Is that always a good idea?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intentionality is Key<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, of course not. It\u2019s about being intentional. Focus on giving what is relatively easy and natural for you. Maybe it\u2019s making an introduction, or offering a couple of hours as a sounding board. But if you overdo it, generosity can cross into overextension. It\u2019s important to recognize that your time and energy are finite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And remember, building authentic trust takes time. A single interaction will not instantly create a solid foundation for a true relationship. This is especially true today, when so many connections are formed virtually through platforms like LinkedIn or collaborative apps like Slack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re a seasoned networker or just getting started, thinking intentionally about what you give may change how you grow your professional community. Often, the best networking comes down to a simple question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will this interaction leave the other person better than I found them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I\u2019m curious. What\u2019s your take? Do you believe in giving freely to people you barely know? And what kinds of things are you willing to offer without expecting anything in return?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to Explore More?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Susan Dominus, Is Giving the Secret to Getting Ahead?<\/a><\/em>, The New York Times<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Susan Ruhl, Fearless Networking \u2013 Connect For Results<\/a><\/em>, Work It Daily<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    There\u2019s no shortage of advice for job seekers these days, and something I read recently reminded me of an older blog post I wrote. Its theme was simple: shift your focus from what others can do for you to what … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-networking"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=210"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":245,"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210\/revisions\/245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/toohugeworld.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}