The Power of Connecting and Staying in Touch

How Meaningful Connections Shape Careers and Lives Over Time

As I reflect upon my career, I am thankful for the people whom I met along the way who helped me navigate my career and my life.

Recently, I met up with a couple of old friends. At the end of our conversation, they told me how much our friendship and my early mentorship meant to them in helping them successfully navigate their careers.

Wow. I had no idea.

And it made me think about all the people who’ve helped me — and how I should take the time to share my appreciation.

Building strong relationships through networking, mentorship and communities makes the journey richer and more rewarding, for you and for those around you. A few thoughts:

• Networking is about meeting new people, staying in touch and building relationships that create lasting connections to share knowledge, experiences and practices. You should be genuinely interested in the people you meet, learning their stories and seeking common ground where collaboration or support can flourish. Your early career connections can develop into partnerships, mentorships and friendships. One single introduction or thoughtful recommendation can transform someone’s career path, create new opportunities for them, or provide necessary support during those challenging times.

   

• Mentorship is when someone with experience guides or supports someone with less experience. A mentor shares advice, answers questions and challenges their mentee to follow their path to be a continuous learner and “never arrive.” The mentor benefits by giving back and learning new perspectives, while the mentee gains knowledge and confidence. These shared lessons inspire mentees to become mentors themselves, creating a culture of generosity and knowledge-sharing.

   

• Growing your community is about bringing new people into your network and being open to learning from people with different backgrounds. It’s about being part of a support group that shares ideas and celebrates their successes. Above all, they remind us that we cannot become all that we can be alone.

Staying in touch is less about frequency and more about intention. It’s about letting people know you remember them, value them and wish them well.

The greatest value emerges from the quality of your relationships. It’s the difference between just knowing someone versus knowing about someone’s passions, struggles and successes.

Remembering and reflecting provides us with the opportunity to take the time to appreciate all the great memories and people who have played a life-changing role in our journey. This perspective creates friendships that are meaningful, valuable and life lasting.

Recently, after dinner with another friend, I reached out to him and said: “I can’t thank you enough for the many years of friendship and always taking the time to extend your thoughtfulness and kindness.”

Who will you thank and appreciate today?