The last time I attended a mega business conference, I came home with dozens of business cards. But I’ve only been in touch with a few contacts. And the email conversations have not been as fruitful as I expected. I have a more realistic approach to networking now: consistently share what I know in public on the right platforms. Show up long enough, and the compound effect will take over. It is working for me so far. I make a full-time income by sharing on topics I’m curious about.
I like what James Clear once said, “Do interesting things. Share them publicly. Repeat those two strategies and you’ll become a magnet.”
I spent two years learning to start a software company a few years ago. I documented my research on my blog. I pitched it as a small business research site. Beyond the fun, I turned it into a connection magnet. A business editor from Microsoft Small Businesses reached out about working together. Guess what? I wrote content for the Microsoft business blog team as a “small business expert” for two years. That’s just one success story. Today, my startup blog attracts hundreds of marketing agencies. I work with them as a business publisher.
While industry events, conferences, and workshops work for many people, networking, in its traditional sense, is draining. The forced small talk and the dreaded cold emails don’t always work. A simple and powerful approach is doing something you deeply care about and sharing it publicly. Ideally online. Write about it. Build it or create it and show the world what you can do. Something meaningful that solves a problem helps someone, or inspires. Maybe it’s finally starting that podcast you’ve always dreamt of or taking a deep dive into a new technical skill.
The key is to choose something that truly excites you. Your curiosity will translate into genuine engagement, and that’s what creates the career opportunities you want.
It could be a curated film photography project you share on Instagram, an insightful blog post on Medium, or a video that uniquely explains a solution to a problem you can solve. Or dive deep into a niche historical research project or mastering a new language. Think blog posts, podcasts, articles, social media content, or even just casual conversations with friends and colleagues. Share your experiences, your learnings, your challenges, and your successes. You will attract connections that are organic and meaningful to your trajectory.
Putting your work in public makes it visible to established figures in your field. You never know who might be drawn to your work. It could be a potential employer, a future collaborator, or an investor. Sharing in public opens possibilities beyond your immediate circle. Thought leaders, potential employers, or collaborators you never knew existed might discover your work and reach out. I landed a book deal that way. A commissioning editor reached out. We exchanged a few emails. The rest is history. They published my book.
“Make stuff you love and talk about stuff you love, and you’ll attract people who love that kind of stuff. It’s that simple,” writes Austin Kleon in his book Show Your Work! The key is to choose something that genuinely sparks your interest and allows you to contribute meaningfully. The point is to actively engage in something that sparks joy and will enable you to express your unique perspective.
The magic happens when you share your projects, learnings, and experiences on content platforms, niche forums, or even your blog. Put your light out there. Let the world know what makes you tick. The results? Those drawn to your energy, interests, and values will naturally find their way to you. Showing your work in public is a networking approach that creates connections beyond the superficial. You’ll attract people genuinely interested in you, your work, and what you offer. They’ll be excited to collaborate and share their experiences with their audience. They are also likely to reach out to you, wanting to learn more, collaborate, or simply connect with someone who shares their interests.
The organic growth can lead to unexpected opportunities, collaborations, and even lifelong friendships. It’s a simple yet powerful approach that transcends the transactional nature of traditional networking. Think of it as sharing your journey, insights, and learnings and attracting potential clients. Sharing your knowledge and expertise in public creates a ripple effect of career growth, learning, and income generation opportunities. You can become a thought leader — all because you chose to do exciting things and share them publicly. Don’t wait for an event to pitch yourself. Put yourself out there.
“Show us the code you wrote. Show us the difficult presentations you were able to produce. Most of all, show us the work you did when no one asked you to do the work,” argues Seth Godin.
You might be surprised at the connections you attract and your impact. The most powerful network is not built on forced interactions; it’s built on the attraction that comes from doing what truly excites you. Be the magnet, and watch your network flourish. Be willing to give as much as you get.
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