Something happened today that left me speechless.
I was interviewing a candidate for a position with one of our clients. He was qualified, articulate and professional, but I was 90% certain I couldn’t advance him. The fit just wasn’t there—I could see a personality clash with the CEO a mile away.
As we were wrapping up, he did something I’ve never seen in nearly 30 years in this industry. Instead of making a desperate final pitch, he flipped the script on me.
He said, “Regardless of whether I get this job, I’d really liked meeting you today. I have a lot of friends who use recruitment services that I think you should meet.” And then he dropped this gem on me: “Just remember, your network is your net worth.”
Your network is your net worth.
The Lettuce Principle
We’ve all heard the phrase “out of sight, out of mind.” But have you ever heard about the “Lettuce Principle?” It’s simple: If you buy lettuce at the grocery store, put it in the fridge and then ignore it for several days, what happens?
It rots. It becomes worthless. Your professional network works the same way. If you’re not cultivating it—staying visible, making meaningful connections, adding value—it’s withering away in your digital crisper drawer.
LinkedIn Is a Garden
Too many people treat LinkedIn like a digital resume that they update only when they need a job. They scroll and consume content without contributing anything.
Then suddenly they tell everyone: “Hey, I’m open to work! Just lost my job.” Nobody likes to see that. If that’s you right now, I am very sorry to hear that. But your untended network’s reaction might be, “Who are you again?” or “What do you do?” “What value have you been adding to my feed for the past three years?”
Your LinkedIn profile isn’t your resume. It’s the way you can tell the world who you are from a skills perspective. The algorithms look for keywords and engagement.
I’m telling you the truth: As I’ve become a CEO and am much more active on LinkedIn, people are reaching out to me to sit on panes and take part in discussions with other thought leaders. If I hadn’t been consistently posting and engaging, none of that would happen. None of it.
Financial Planning vs. Crisis Management
So I don’t know about you, but I am now looking at my network like it’s a financial portfolio. You plan ahead, make regular investments, and let compound interest work its magic. The same applies to your professional network—in real life, not just on LinkedIn.
Don’t wait until you desperately need a job to start networking. When you hit tough times, you’ll benefit from a long-term investment in your network.
Let the Algorithm Work FOR You
Algorithms reward consistency and engagement. If you’re not regularly visible on LinkedIn or other platforms, the algorithm has no data to work with. No data means no visibility.
You have to feed the algorithm consistently if you want it to feed you opportunities. That means regular posting, thoughtful comments, sharing insights—not just lurking in the shadows.
The Best Part Is, It’s Not Just About You
The beauty of networking is that it’s mutual. When you share insights, offer help, or make introductions, you’re building others’ networks too. That candidate I told you about? He didn’t just say, “I hope you can hire me.”
He said, “Let me add value to your network regardless of your decision.” That’s powerful. That’s someone who understands that giving comes before getting.
Start Today
If your network is your net worth, how rich are you? More importantly, what are you doing to increase that wealth today? Here’s my challenge: Don’t let another week pass without contributing something valuable to your network. Share an insight. Say congratulations to someone. Offer help. Make an introduction.
Because unlike physical currency, this is one form of wealth you can build by giving it away.
And who knows? The next time you’re looking for an opportunity, your network might know who is looking for someone exactly like you.