It’s about who you know
At an early age, I was taught a very important lesson from my dad that I would find life-changing as I moved through my professional life. Like most wisdom passed down from parents, I was reluctant to believe my dad when he told me this saying while I was in 6th or 7th grade. But I can confirm that this advice has opened more opportunities than I could have imagined and curated more joy and love than I ever thought possible.
The wisdom?
“It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.”
I doubt he coined this phrase but he would consistently share with me and my brothers this wisdom as we were growing up. At first, I was skeptical, of course, but as time wore on and I started to look back, I noticed that most opportunities that were presented to me were the result of a direct relationship or an affiliate referral. I hardly ever accomplished anything on my own. Not to say I didn’t do things on my own but for example, when I would apply for a job and wasn’t associated with anyone at that company, I wouldn’t even get a response. But if I knew someone, the likelihood of me getting at least an interview was high. It didn’t mean I would get the job, but I would have a chance.
If relationships weren’t important in the business world, then the Recruiter market would be non-existent, LinkedIn wouldn’t be a professional platform, and networking wouldn’t be a concept. Recruiters work because they build a relationship with the company and then with the applicant. They’re the middleman who gets the opportunities for the right candidates. LinkedIn works because it allows for a surface-level relationship that potentially could open the door for a new opportunity or allow you to be a door opener. And networking allows for more in-depth connections that either lead to professional or development opportunities.
It’s not as catchy but I’d like to make an update to this quote:
“It’s not all about what you know, it’s more important to know the right person.”
Again, it’s not as catchy but more definitely more accurate. Knowledge is important, some even go as far as to say, it’s power. It can get you a lot of places and I personally, am a huge proponent of the acronym, ABL, “Always Be Learning”. It has been the best advice for keeping me engaged and away from boredom. What’s the most dangerous type of man? A bored one.
Yes, knowledge is important, but I would argue that relationships are power. You can know all you want about a topic and be a great candidate but if you’re going up against someone who has a relationship with the hiring manager, you’re likely in the passenger seat, not the driver seat.
So what can you do to level up your relationship building skills?
Develop your communication skills
Be confident in who you are and what you bring to the table. If you don’t have a lot of experience, show your excitement for learning and growth.
Read non-fiction self-development books
Find a course that can help you develop the skills you need to level up.
Book a call with me at joshuagane.com
Follow me on socials, Linkedin, Instagram, TikTok and soon Youtube.
Finally, practice. Practice makes better.
