Include Friends and Connections in Your Network. →

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Your contacts are people you may have met in real life or online, with whom you may share common interests or goals. However, you are not deeply invested in your contacts' lives, successes, or failures.

Your network comprises people with whom you have met in person or spoken directly. Networking is about getting to know more people.

Your connections are about knowing people more deeply. The distinction is obvious. You may know many people professionally and personally, but you are truly connected to only a fraction of them. These connections usually involve having a deeper relationship.

Our relationships impact all dimensions of our well-being, including physical and mental health, and our ability to flourish at work and in every other facet of life.

We surround ourselves with family and friends for support and comfort in joy and distress. Studies have shown that having supportive relationships within your social circle is a protective factor against mental illnesses and contributes to our mental well-being. Such relationships are crucial to our overall well-being.

Friends can be a valuable asset in your professional network, as they often have connections in different companies or industries compared to yours. By tapping into their network, you can access individuals who might share common interests or goals.

Networking is about expanding this circle, getting to know more people, and unlocking new opportunities. It's a collection of people you've met in person or spoken to directly. Having a broader range of contacts could help you advance in your career, and their familiarity with you makes them ideal for introducing you to the right people.