Why Your Network Matters More Than Your Job Title
“Your résumé opens doors, but your relationships keep them open.”
We spend years perfecting our résumés, polishing bullet points, updating titles, and listing achievements. But here is the truth: your relationships tell a more honest story than your résumé ever could.
When you look back on your biggest opportunities, your best career moments, or the doors that unexpectedly opened, how many came from someone who knew you, not just what you have done?
Chances are, it wasn’t your skills that made the introduction, it was your relationships.
The Hidden Power of Your Network
At Placers, we see it every day. A great candidate gets the job not just because of their experience, but because someone vouched for them. A leader grows their business because their reputation precedes them. A career pivot works because they’ve built trust over time.
Your “Top 20,” your personal board of advisors, are the people who make that happen.
The idea of having a personal board of advisors was first introduced to me by Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, authors of The Business of You: Ask the Right Questions, Tell Your Story, Lead Your Life. Their framework challenges each of us to think intentionally about the relationships that guide and shape our success.
These are not your LinkedIn connections or casual coffee chats. They are the people who believe in you, challenge you, and advocate for you even when you’re not in the room.
Relationships Built on Service
Here’s the catch: the best relationships are never built on transactions. They grow from service, from giving before asking, from showing up.
When you help others succeed, you become unforgettable. You are seen as someone who creates value, not just someone chasing it. Over time, that service-first mindset compounds into influence, trust, and opportunity.
The most successful people don’t just network; they nurture. They check in. They share insights. They introduce people. They find small, meaningful ways to make someone else’s day a little better.
How to Build Your Top 20
Here’s the practical part. Keep a simple spreadsheet of your Top 20.
List the people who:
- Connect you with others
- Create opportunities (rainmakers)
- Challenge your thinking
- Have skills or perspectives you need to grow
You’re looking for these people every day, in every interaction. You may not ask them for anything right away, but you’re always building the list, intentionally.
Truthfully, even having eight solid people in your corner gets the job done. Over time, your list will evolve. People retire, move, change focus, or pass away. After thirty years of keeping my own, I can tell you: your board of advisors should be dynamic and changing, just like you.
Your Top 20 Challenge
If your relationships really are your résumé, it’s worth asking:
Who’s in your Top 20?
Who would pick up if you called at 3 a.m.?
And maybe more importantly, who are you showing up for?
Make it a goal this week to reach out to one person in your circle, not to ask for anything, but to offer something. A piece of advice, an introduction, a simple “how are you?”
Because at the end of the day, your career isn’t defined by what you’ve done.
It’s defined by who you have helped along the way.
Until next time, friends,
Chris
P.S. If the idea of leading with service resonates with you, check out my recent Outside Insights podcast conversation with Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-Giver. His message perfectly captures what it means to create value for others first, the same principle that builds lasting relationships and powerful networks.
🎧 Listen to the episode here or pick up The Go-Giver wherever you get your books.
At Outside Insights, we believe success isn’t just about what you achieve, it’s about who you grow with along the way. Share this with someone who needs a reminder to invest in their relationships, not just their résumé.