Episode 88: Networking vs. Not Working

The Career Clinic Podcast

Host: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart

Episode Overview

Welcome to Week Three of The Career Clinic Podcast January Intensive Series.

In Episode 88, we take on a word that makes a lot of capable, thoughtful people tense up: networking.

This episode reframes networking not as performative relationship-building or forced small talk, but as proximity, intention, and stewardship of relationships. Ronnie names why opting out of networking may feel safe or principled — yet at a certain point in your career, it quietly limits momentum, access, and provision.

This is a grounded, honest conversation about how opportunity actually moves — and why tending relationships before you need them matters more than ever in today's shifting professional landscape.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why "opting out" of networking is no longer a neutral posture ✔️ The difference between networking and not working ✔️ How most opportunities actually come to fruition ✔️ Why proximity matters more than volume ✔️ The role relationships play in provision, protection, and momentum ✔️ How to activate the network you already have ✔️ Why networking isn't a crisis response — it's a practice

The Core Truth: Opportunity Moves Through People

Ronnie shares a powerful personal reflection: across her entire career, nearly every meaningful role, promotion, and opportunity came through relationships — not applications.

Not because of strategy or hustle, but because of:

• Proximity

• Conversations

• Reputation

• People saying her name when she wasn't in the room

This episode makes clear: your network doesn't just carry you when things are good — it carries you when things shift.

Networking vs. Not Working ✍🏾

Ronnie defines not working as:

• Waiting to be remembered

• Assuming people still know what you do

• Believing past work will speak on your behalf indefinitely

• Telling yourself, "If it's meant for me, it'll come"

• Staying silent to avoid discomfort

While understandable, this posture often leads to stalled momentum — especially as industries restructure, roles compress, and access becomes more relational than procedural.

The Data Backs This Up 📊

Ronnie references compelling research that confirms what many have experienced firsthand:

• Up to 85% of jobs are filled through networking

• Roughly 70% of roles are never publicly posted

• Employee referrals account for 30–50% of hires

• Most opportunities are filled through personal and professional connections

This episode isn't motivational — it's realistic.

Proximity vs. Periphery: A Critical Distinction

Ronnie introduces a key framework:

Proximate Network People who know your work, character, and receipts. They're more likely to advocate, protect, and connect you.

Peripheral Network More distant connections, future collaborators, or lapsed relationships. These often require more intentional nurturing.

The insight: most people try to go wide when they actually need to go deeper. Immediate leverage lives in proximity. Future leverage lives in the periphery.

Networking as a Stakeholder Ecosystem

This episode reframes networking as stakeholder management, not card-collecting.

A stakeholder is anyone who:

• Impacts your work or outcomes

• Is impacted by your decisions

• Holds influence or power in your ecosystem

Ronnie explains how mapping stakeholders by interest and influence helps you:

• Focus your energy

• Reduce overwhelm

• Be strategic without being transactional

• Stop feeling guilty about not "keeping up with everyone"

Always Be Connecting (ABC)

Ronnie introduces her ABC principle — not "always be closing," but:

Always Be Connecting

Connection can look like:

• Sharing insight or gratitude

• Mentoring or advocating

• Offering support or introductions

• Showing up consistently

• Being present and memorable

Influence is built through frequency, integrity, and relevance — not volume or noise.

Three Actions to Take This Week ✨

1. Reach Out to Someone Proximate Send a text, email, or voice note with no agenda. "Thinking about you. How are you?" is enough.

2. List Your Key Stakeholders Name five people who matter most to your current work or next move. Write down how you're actively tending those relationships.

3. Practice Goodwill Make one introduction. Advocate for someone not in the room. Share an opportunity — without keeping score.

These small acts compound into real provision over time.

What Gets in the Way — and How to Move Through It

Most people don't struggle with networking because they don't care. They struggle because of:

• Overwhelm

• Lack of planning

• Waiting until crisis

The invitation here is simple: build consistently, before you need it.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow is Ask OhHeyCoach Friday, where Ronnie responds directly to listener questions from this week and beyond.

If this episode stirred something for you — you're not alone.

Links & Resources 🤎

📝 Ask OhHeyCoach: Submit your questions for a future episode: 👉🏾 https://form.typeform.com/to/ja89DHpT

📩 Join the OhHeyMonday Newsletter: Weekly reflections, tools, and grounded leadership guidance. 👉🏾 www.ohheyjoin.com

🤝 Work With Ronnie / OhHeyCoach: Executive coaching, leadership development, and career design. 👉🏾 www.ohheycoach.com

📬 Contact: [email protected]

Final Thought ✨

Networking isn't about collecting people. It's about cultivating relationships. You don't need to overhaul everything. You just need to stay connected to the people who matter.

You're not doing this alone. I'll see you tomorrow. 🤎