Why Networking and Purpose Go Hand-In-Hand

For the past couple of weeks, I've been writing to you about designing a career on purpose and overcoming barriers. If you want to catch up on those posts, go here and here.

This week I have to tell you a hard truth related to both of those topics. If you want to create a 21-century career — one that is financially fulfilling, intellectually stimulating, and connects you to your purpose and vision— you're probably not going to find it on a job board.

Regardless of how easy and attractive online job boards like Monster and Indeed might be, and regardless of the number of job seekers using those tools, statistics still show that 74.5% of people get jobs through networking. 

I'm assuming this is not news to you. We hear these statistics all the time. Yet, most of us still do very little to expand our networks even when we want a new career. I think it's because we don't understand what a network is or how to create it.

Networking: A Definition

As a verb, networking brings to mind large confer…