Your Network Is NOT Your Net Worth (...And That’s a Good Thing)

_{[Read time: 3.5 minutes]}

We’ve all heard the saying: "Your network is your net worth."

Sounds nice. Rolls off the tongue. And it’s wrong.

Most business owners collect connections like Pokémon cards — hoping that, someday, they’ll have the right one when they need it.

But a random inventory of people doesn’t create leverage. A well-designed network does.

Here’s the reframe I’m realizing to be more powerful that conventional wisdom:

Stop trying to collect a "network." Start engineering one with specificity.

How to Engineer a High-Leverage Network

Instead of hoarding weak connections, create an intentional network where every relationship serves a role.

Consider these 5 sub-networks within the system: