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The “Networking” Lie That’s Killing Your Career!

The “Networking” Lie That’s Killing Your Career!

Trust, loyalty, and leverage aren’t built at mixers. Here’s what actually works in 2025.

Glenda Carnate
August 02, 2025

Read time: 2.5 minutes

You’ve been lied to.

Networking events, LinkedIn connections, endless coffee chats? Mostly a waste of time. When it really matters, most of those “connections” won’t even text you back.

Networking is Vanity. Loyalty is Leverage.

Collecting business cards might boost your ego, but it won't build your future.
Real power? That comes from your micro-army... the few people who show up at 2 a.m. when the world’s falling apart.

These aren’t people you "met once at a panel." These are the ones who’ve been in the trenches with you... on real projects, through hard decisions, during failures. That's where loyalty is forged.

How to Build a Tribe That Actually Has Your Back?

Let’s get practical:

Stop Chasing Quantity:

Audit your network. Pick 5 people you haven’t heard from in a year. Would they actually support you under pressure? If not, let them fade.
Replace vanity metrics with trust metrics: Who answers when you call? Who follows through?

Bet on Reciprocity:

Don't just send generic “Let me know how I can help” messages.
Instead: “Here’s what I noticed you're working on—can I help with the launch, the deck, or anything you're stuck on?”
Give value with intention. Then watch who gives back without being asked.

Test Loyalty Early:

Run small pressure tests: Need a quick intro? Ask. Need quick help with a deck or project? Ask.
Who shows up when it’s inconvenient for them? That’s your inner circle.
Loyalty isn’t declared; it’s demonstrated in action, over time.

Why This Works?

Every great leader, from startup founders to military commanders, knows that when the pressure’s on, only a handful of people really matter.

Your success won’t come from knowing everyone.
It’ll come from knowing who will stand beside you when it’s time to fight for the future.

According to the 2024 PwC Trust Survey,

🔹 93% of executives believe that building and maintaining trust improves the bottom line
🔹 But 94% say they’ve faced major hurdles in building so.

In short: Everyone values trust, but almost no one knows how to build it.
🔗 Full report here

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Connection ≠ Commitment. Most people won’t show up when it counts. Find the ones who will.
Trust is a currency. Build it intentionally and spend it wisely.
Loyalty comes from shared history, not shared coffee.
You don’t need more names. You need deeper roots.

👉 Like this post if you’re done pretending your “network” has your back.

👉 Want more truth like this? SUBSCRIBE NOW—because feel-good fluff won’t get you far.

👉 Follow Glenda Carnate for daily drops on building loyalty, not vanity metrics.