One of the biggest mistakes people make is only thinking about their network when they need something.
They lose a job. They start looking for clients. They decide to change careers. Suddenly it’s time to reconnect with people they haven’t spoken to in years.
By then, it’s often too late.
Relationships don’t appear overnight. They grow over months and years, through conversations, shared experiences, and simply staying in touch.
I learned this lesson in a way I’ll never forget.
A few years ago, I left a job that I genuinely loved. The work was interesting, the company was great, but I was reporting to a very inexperienced manager who made my life increasingly miserable. After months of deliberating, I finally decided to walk away because I couldn't take it anymore.
The next day, I met a business friend for coffee and shared that I had finally left and was looking for my next project.
She smiled and said, “Great. Then I can finally hire you.”
I was completely taken aback. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
Her answer made sense: she knew some of the senior people at my company and didn’t think it would be ethical to try to poach me. So she just kept an eye on me until the time was right.
She had seen my proof of work. She had seen my LinkedIn posts. We’d met at industry events. Mutual friends had mentioned my name over the months and years. She knew what I was good at, and now she also knew that I was looking for a new project and what kind of project I wanted. The timing was finally right.
One door closed, another one opened.
Was this luck? Maybe partly. But you create your own luck by creating the conditions for opportunity to exist. This means you nurture your relationships and show your proof of work long before you need something.
To me, that’s what Findability is all about: it’s making sure that the people who already know you understand what you do, what you’re passionate about, and where you want to go next. So when an opportunity appears, your name naturally comes to mind.
Your network can’t support you if they don’t know who you are and what you’re looking for.
That’s why one of the lessons we teach in Jobtober is simple:
Don’t build your network only when you need it. Build it today.
Help people without expecting anything in return. Share what you’re learning. Show your work. Stay curious. Stay visible. Tell people what excites you.
You never know which conversation, recommendation, or introduction will change the direction of your career.
By the time you need your network, your relationships should already be strong.
Invest in your relationships. Plant the seeds today that tomorrow’s opportunities can grow from.
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Thank you, 2BuildLaunch, for supporting Jobtober!
Findability Thought
The best opportunities rarely come from the people you meet today.
They come from existing relationships: people who have watched your journey over time.
Every week, somewhere in the Bitcoin ecosystem, someone is looking for someone exactly like you.
Can they find you?
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Enjoy your Sunday!
Thanks for being part of the Bitvocation community. 🧡
PS: We’re grateful to 2BuildLaunch for supporting us in offering our upcoming annual Bitcoin Career Hackathon for free. Learn more and join Jobtober here.
Great article on the importance on continued networking.