--- title: "Networking" id: "771" type: "post" slug: "networking" published_at: "2024-08-29T11:58:26+00:00" modified_at: "2025-12-19T09:03:38+00:00" url: "https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/networking/" markdown_url: "https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/networking.md" excerpt: "If you’re looking for success - you have to surround yourself with successful people." taxonomy_category: - "General" --- # Networking *by Jake Smolarek* In this Article: 1[Success formula](#success-formula) 2[No man is an island](#no-man-is-an-island) 3[It's a marathon, not a sprint](#it-s-a-marathon-not-a-sprint) Last updated: 19 December 2025 ## Success formula If you’re looking for success – you have to surround yourself with successful people. Many people think of networking as just having a coffee and a chat with someone. But in reality, networking is so much more than that. Networking refers to meeting and creating connections with people who might be useful to your career. Not necessarily because they will help you directly, but because you can learn from them. Your professional success will come from the expertise and ideas you’ve gathered over your life. If you can gain additional knowledge and success from others, it’s an automatic boost. They have made mistakes you haven’t and learnt different lessons; if they share these with you, you can get ahead without making the same mistakes. ![Game pawns](https://jakesmolarek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/article-12-hero.webp) ## No man is an island And no successful person reached their goals without any outside guidance or help. We’re the product of the environment around us. You can’t fight that effect, but you can manipulate the environment that you’re in. If you actively seek out successful, self-assured, and helpful individuals, you can build mutual trust and long-term relationships with endless benefits for you, your career, and your future. It’s a simple concept. Just not always easy to execute. But networking isn’t always at the top of everyone’s to-do list. It can be draining and time-consuming; more small talk with yet another stranger when you’d rather be at your desk getting things done. But if it’s done well, you can create a network of people who will support you, show you new ways of thinking and achieving and could help boost you into that promotion, or a new job, or help you land your first client. It’s a competitive edge that will help you stand out. And networking opportunities are all around you. It’s not restricted to stuffy, formal work events and conferences. It’s a personal connection; out-of-office connections are just as crucial as in-work relationships. You should be looking to build a form of relationship where you are mutually helpful to each other. You can stay on top of the job market, meet prospective mentors, partners, and clients, as well as gain access to the necessary resources and skill sets that can push your career development. Developing yourself in your workplace is essential. But out of office connections like these can guarantee career progress and opportunities. How much more achievable would success be when you can call a trusted acquaintance about possible job openings? How much easier is it to motivate yourself when everyone around you has career-specific advice and is ready to share it with you? book your free initial consultation session! [Get in touch](#contact) ## It’s a marathon, not a sprint Of course, you’ll have to learn how to network with the right people. The reliable, knowledgeable, and self-assured individuals that are looking to help you get ahead are the ones to look towards, and they aren’t always easy to find. A good network of individuals takes time to build. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and requires long-term commitment and investment. Sharing advice, ideas, support, tips, and news with a network of people who want to see you succeed as much as you want to, is crucial to success and staying ahead of the game. Surround yourself with people like this, people who know what it takes to be the best, and you’ll find yourself becoming a product of this environment. So, why not get started? There’s no time like the present! Share with others. Share on FacebookShare on WhatsappShare on LinkedinCopy LinkLink is Copied!Share on Email - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/asking-good-questions/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/asking-good-questions/) [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/asking-good-questions/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/asking-good-questions/) previous ### [Asking Good Questions](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/asking-good-questions/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/the-80-20-rule-paretos-principle/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/the-80-20-rule-paretos-principle/) next ### [The 80 20 Rule – The Pareto Principle](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/the-80-20-rule-paretos-principle/) [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/the-80-20-rule-paretos-principle/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/the-80-20-rule-paretos-principle/) [Back to articles](/articles/) About the Author ![Jake Smolarek](https://jakesmolarek.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/tile-about-me.webp)Jake Smolarek [Life Coach](https://jakesmolarek.com/) , [Business Coach](https://jakesmolarek.com/business-coaching/) , Entrepreneur Jake Smolarek has over 18 years of experience and more than 27,000 hours of coaching delivered, working with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and high-performing professionals. His signature frameworks, including **Vision GPS** and **Learn → Practice → Master → Become a F*cking Legend**, to name a few, have helped clients achieve extraordinary results. His work has been featured in *The Times, Yahoo Finance,* and *Business Insider*. [Read more about Jake Smolarek](https://jakesmolarek.com/about/jake-smolarek/) . Recent articles - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/psychology-of-negotiation/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/psychology-of-negotiation/) ### [The Reality of Negotiation: The Psychology Behind Terms, Pressure, and Regret](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/psychology-of-negotiation/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/influence-and-persuasion-psychology/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/influence-and-persuasion-psychology/) ### [Influence and Persuasion: How Human Decisions Are Made, Resisted, and Changed](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/influence-and-persuasion-psychology/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/founder-bottleneck-scale/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/founder-bottleneck-scale/) ### [The Founder Bottleneck: How to Build a Company That Runs Without You](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/founder-bottleneck-scale/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/time-management-architecture/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/time-management-architecture/) ### [Time Management Architecture: The Operating System Behind High Performance](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/time-management-architecture/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/leadership-operating-system/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/leadership-operating-system/) ### [The Fundamentals of Leadership: The System That Builds Elite Operators](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/leadership-operating-system/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/why-morning-planning-fails/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/why-morning-planning-fails/) ### [Planning Your Day in the Morning Is Already Too Late: The Tetris Effect](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/why-morning-planning-fails/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/procrastination-high-performers/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/procrastination-high-performers/) ### [Procrastination: Why High Performers Hesitate And How to Rebuild Speed](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/procrastination-high-performers/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/imposter-syndrome/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/imposter-syndrome/) ### [Imposter Syndrome: The High Achiever’s Glitch in the Operating System](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/imposter-syndrome/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/the-addiction-to-achievement/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/the-addiction-to-achievement/) ### [The Addiction to Achievement: The Structural Flaw in Perpetual Growth](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/the-addiction-to-achievement/) - [https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/raising-lions-in-a-zoo/](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/raising-lions-in-a-zoo/) ### [Raising Lions in a Zoo: How Abundance Kills Hunger, A Guide to Wealthy Families’ Conflicts, Power And Succession](https://jakesmolarek.com/articles/raising-lions-in-a-zoo/) I have spoken at [https://www.ox.ac.uk/](https://www.ox.ac.uk/) [https://www.imperial.ac.uk/](https://www.imperial.ac.uk/) [https://www.gre.ac.uk/](https://www.gre.ac.uk/) [http://www.bbk.ac.uk/](http://www.bbk.ac.uk/) [https://www.uwl.ac.uk/](https://www.uwl.ac.uk/) [https://www.lse.ac.uk/](https://www.lse.ac.uk/) [https://www.ox.ac.uk/](https://www.ox.ac.uk/) [https://www.imperial.ac.uk/](https://www.imperial.ac.uk/) [https://www.gre.ac.uk/](https://www.gre.ac.uk/) [http://www.bbk.ac.uk/](http://www.bbk.ac.uk/) [https://www.uwl.ac.uk/](https://www.uwl.ac.uk/) [https://www.lse.ac.uk/](https://www.lse.ac.uk/) Contact Me & Book Your Complimentary Consultation Session address Davies Street, Mayfair, London W1K phone number Mobile: [+44 7738 514 600](tel:+447738514600) email [[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#acc5c2cac3ecc6cdc7c9dfc1c3c0cddec9c782cfc3c1)