Chapter 19. Your People
In your career as a geek, thereâs a list of essential career intangibles. These are the things you need to do in order to be successful, which are also maddeningly difficult to measure. There is no direct correlation between completing these activities and a raise. Itâs unlikely that accomplishing these indefinite tasks will end up in your review, but via organizational and social osmosis, youâve learned these intangibles are essential in order to grow.
I want to talk about one: networking.
There are two types of networking. Basic networking is what you do at work. Itâs a target-rich environment with coworkers, your boss, and those of interest in close proximity. Itâs work, but itâs easy work because your day is full of those you depend on, and youâve learned that professionally befriending these people keeps you comfortably in the know.
Iâm going to call the other type âpeople networking,â and itâs harder work. This is when you put yourself out there. Itâs attending a conference where you know no one. Itâs driving to the city to sit in a coffee shop with 10 strangers bonded by a programming language. Itâs a leap for the socially awkward, but the infrequent reward is that you discover Your People.
I donât have a good definition for these people, so I made a list. My hope is that as you read this list youâll think of at least one person you know who is already Your People:
Your connection with Your People is instant and obvious; ...
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