“Nurture Relationships: Networking Is Farming, Not Hunting”

Many people treat networking like a hunt: They frantically wander an event, pass out business cards, and hope that someone calls them. That’s one of many reasons why so many people never build a meaningful network. The professionals who rise, advance, and stay relevant do something very different - they nurture relationships. They understand that connection isn’t built in a moment. It’s cultivated over time. This is the fourth step in the CONNECT Framework, and it’s the turning point where casual interactions become long-term relationships. By now, we’ve covered the first three elements: Curiosity First – Ask more, talk less. Offer Value – Give before you get. No Judgment – Look past assumptions. Those three principles help you start great relationships. Nurturing Relationships helps you keep them. Here's one truth I've learned over the years: The people who never follow up, never check in, and only reach out when they need something are not networking. They aren't being curious, offering value, or nurturing relationships. This approach never compounds into anything meaningful. You don’t build a great team. You grow one. Many of my mentors weren’t focused on quick wins or one-time interactions. They invested time, real conversations, and consistent presence. That mindset translated into everything they did: mentoring, leadership, and yes, networking. It’s the same mindset that separates transactional professionals from transformational ones. We love the myth that we’ll meet the “right person” and instantly bond. Although this occasionally does happen, the majority of relationships (and trust) are built over time. Relationships grow through: People don’t remember the person who had the perfect pitch. They remember the person who showed up more than once, and genuinely cared. You don’t need to overthink relationship-building. You need a simple, repeatable system. These are quick, low-effort ways to stay present: These deepen the relationship: Relationships don’t require constant attention. They require meaningful attention. Something fascinating happens when you nurture relationships: People begin nurturing YOU. Your small, consistent touches compound into a level of trust that other professionals simply never build. Nothing in your career compounds faster than a nurtured network. Write down 10 people you respect, admire, or simply want to maintain connection with. Reach out to 5 of them with a light, genuine message. The message can be incredibly simple... "Hey! It's been too long since we've talked. We should catch up!" Schedule a couple 15-minute calls with people you want to grow with long-term. Offer value where you can, take notes, and follow up later. You stop networking. You start connecting. You stop chasing opportunities. Opportunities start coming to you. You stop guessing who your allies are. You build them intentionally. And with time, the network you grow becomes one of the most valuable assets in your entire career. In the CONNECT Framework, we’ve now covered: Next week, we move to “E”: Engage Authentically. Every week, I share one principle from 24 years of career reinventions - from dishwasher to soldier to firefighter to banker to entrepreneur and author. No theory. Just real stories and practical tools for building authentic professional relationships. Find me at michaelgreenwalt.net. Don’t miss the launch of (NOT) Self Made — December 11, live at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff. Every ticket includes a copy of the book and an unforgettable keynote experience. The first time I asked myself who I was becoming, I didn’t know I was asking it. I was standing in a National Guard… Everyone is talking about what AI can do. Nobody is asking what it's doing to you. You have a self-leadership problem. It’s a familiar phrase: “I’d love to start that, build that, learn that, do that… I… The greatest barrier to entry is rarely lack of ability. It is the fear of being seen trying. Sometimes the hardest part of growth is admitting that a chapter didn’t fail. It simply finished. Why Blue-Collar Leadership Is the Model for 2026 For a long time, we have been sold a very specific version of… We've all been there. An idea for a business. This week, we dive into step six of the CONNECT framework - Create Win-Wins. What does that really mean? Simply put, it… A handful of years ago, I was invited to a conference that had nothing to do with my career at the time. It was hosted… He was always last to formation, struggled on PT runs, and made mistakes that got the entire platoon punished. Private…