Someone started working with me today thanks to the power of networking.
People talk about it all the time, right? And it ends up becoming this strategic thing, a struggle. It looks like a contest. I find that view troubling because it so often disconnects from real connection.
Someone watched a documentary about the ecovillage where I live, Céu do Gamarra, which is on YouTube. She saw my story there and thought, “hey, that’s cool”. She added me on LinkedIn: “I watched the documentary and looked up your name here”. She also works in the “Roça Office” style — think home office, but for people who live in the countryside.
I thought that was great and said: let’s schedule a chat. We got to know each other, connected. Then I saw she works as a project manager at a company. And every now and then we need someone like that at Métrica. I reached out, it made perfect sense, and she started working today.
All because she watched a 15-minute video on YouTube, liked it, and we genuinely connected.
That’s real networking: doing things person to person.
Working as a network
It was at RD Summit that I learned to exchange business cards, to do “networking”. It was definitely one of my great early nudges to connect with people, businesses, territories, and movements.
Today I’m certain that “networking” is about “working as a network”, not just “working my network”. From people to people. Not from people to corporate registration numbers that, in truth, nourish almost no one. There is such a thing as empty food, with no nutrients; there are companies like that too.
When I realized I no longer want to just trade cards and do deals, I also realized what I do want: to give and receive real gazes, to exchange knowledge and experiences in depth — eyes shining with emotion — end-of-conversation hugs full of brotherly gratitude. Hugs of bodies and of souls.
Networking, my foot!… The real deal is being a person so you can get to know people.
Originally published on my Instagram in November 2023 and March 2025.