2. Jason Warner's approach is as tasteless as teenage and adult conspicuous consumers who spend all day chasing then flashing labels, the bags they carry, the cars they drive, the pants they wear. I have no desire to be like those who present a materialistic name-brand image we must reach to be somebody. How shallow. "Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks," says the pin I wear proudly at the independent coffee shop. That barista/owner knows something Jason and his entourage don't – how to truly make a living!

3. Sounds like another member of the exclusive club. They speak of diversity only to recruit from their circle of friends and chosen campuses. They'd never welcome someone without a degree from a pedigree B-school. Jason is lucky to be a gatekeeper. I wouldn't be happy working at those companies because they sound like snobs.

4. Jason Warner sounds like an incredible possibility for a startup like ours. We'd love to have someone like him help mold our team. If he became our Global Talent Acquisition Director, we'd be extremely flattered. At the very least, maybe he's available for consulting.

5. Jason Warner wouldn't be our first choice in the rough world of startups. We once tried a big company name guy, failed miserably, never again!

6. Jason Warner appears so dedicated the way he lays out his goals and dreams, made the right connections and realized them. I'm impressed reading about him, his generosity and his success gives me hope. I plan to follow his steps to grow my network, and maybe he can be part of mine.

7. I've been let down by others who appeared giving of their time who were only in it for themselves. He may be a nice guy, but I've been burned before. Sorry if I paint with broad brush.

8. He would never be interested in us. We're small potatoes, we'd bore him.

So there you have it, multiple interpretations stemming from the same set of undeniable achievements.

Whenever I come across something that charges me positively about "networking," I run it through my personal board of directors, for our mutual growth and to avoid "halo effects." This includes a teambuilding boss who says the secret to his success is NOT hiring through referrals. Never wanting to be accused of favoritism, he assembles his results-producing teams from scratch, his kind of meritocracy. Then again, witness the 65 to 85% success rate of the "hidden job market."

One big challenge corporate recruiters face is attracting talented people who have no desire to work for household name companies. The book "The Search" says Google offended some with its not-so-great treatment of applicants (isn't that a kind of network to build outside the company too?) Recent media interviews with colleague Laszlo Bock say Google is out to correct that, but for some it's too late. Sure, Google may boast as does Microsoft of its 100,000+ resumes-per-month electronic and physical truckload. However, when it comes to hiring as well as networking, are we really after quantity or quality?

Yes, those quantity 8 opinions pro- and anti- Cuppa J style networking were from quality personalities (IMHO) of all ages, some who passionately believe they've got the Google smarts and others who after heartless rejections from brand-name corporate gods passionately state, "If you can't join them, beat them!"

I appreciate this 5-way post and the conversations it sparked within my network of advisors, some whom I haven't spoken to about this for months/years.

* * * * * *

Greg, 

You've raised some thought-provoking responses in your study.  There seems to be a distinct dichotomy of responses; those in favor and those opposed.  Above all else, I would offer that networking must rest on authentic human interactions.  These can't be faked.  Something I've not mentioned but that is important to me personally is that I also choose to network because it makes my life more rich.  Yes, I've benefited from networking in my career.  In fact, I can attribute two distinct career moves (from Microsoft to a technology startup and from the (then acquired) startup to Starbucks) that were a direct result of networking.  But I've also benefited as my life is filled with relationships that have been forged at the beginning with an authentic human connection based on networking.  As I've written on my personal blog, networking is forming 1/4 or 1/2 friendships that have the potential to become full friendships with the right chemistry…pursuing a relationship for an undefined end based on giving value (not taking).

Those friendships are ones I prize.  
–Jason

Next, I want to add separately a study I did triggered by this 5-way post which at first excited me, then brought me back to reality.

This is a crucial competency is this day of disposable resources and your suggestions are all doable by those willing to manage their own destinies.

I have been through mergers, outsourcings, and buyouts where the bottom line is king and human capital are treated like pawns in the global game of commerce.

Good post. I made two similar posts on networking. Take a look when you have the time

http://gauteg.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-do-i-network-7-years-of-learning.html

http://gauteg.blogspot.com/2007/01/six-tips-for-networking-in-2007.html

And when are you coming down to Google Hyderabad?

:-))

best wishes
Gautam

* * * * * *

I think it is hard to create authentic relationships with social networking tools, because the interaction often is so rudimentary.  I view social networking tools as a way to find people with which to engage in 'old-fashioned' relationship building efforts.

–Jason

-Brad Maier

I'm sure our respective Directors were very impressed with how plugged-in we all were, never realising how simple the network really was. This was in the days loooong before email, so making the time to do the calls and have the coffees was sometimes a little tricky, but it was more than worth the effort.

Many of that crew are still good friends and we still share information and ideas in our resepctive industries. Many of the books I read, lectures and courses I attend and blogs I subscribe to are as a result of the information shared over that bush telegraph.

—Pete

* * * * * *

This is a great comment.  I think much of the 'pressure' regarding networking is removed when you don't have an overt ulterior motive.  What I mean is, if you show real interest in others (and in making yourself available to help others) then networking becomes easy because it shows through that your efforts are simply to get to know people and see where the relationship goes.
–Jason