Networking

As we embark on The Journey and become stronger on the individual level, it is natural that we start to look outward for ways to connect with and improve the world around us. To do this, we need to find others who see the world similarly to how we do and build mutually beneficial networks around shared interests and goals. This article will lay out the fourth step in The Journey: Networking, how to understand the value and structure of networks and the strategy for finding ones to join and/or building your own.

Value of Networking

Personal Value

No man is an island and as much work we can do to improve ourselves, networking with others is an essential way to strengthen ourselves. Breaking from the mainstream delusion is inherently difficult as our old networks are typically beholden to corrupted ideas and will not support healthy and natural ideals. One of the most fundamental values of a network of similarly minded individuals is the mental health support this provides. Being able to discuss ideas, get grounded with people who understand what we are going through, and support each other on the journey is a necessary part to long term success. We are going to make it and a practical and optimistic vibe from those around you makes all the difference.

There is also a ton of value in building social capital in our space as many here are intelligent, driven, and successful individuals. We can often help each other by providing insight when the discussion is within our own area of expertise. Many times you will find that the problems you are choosing to tackle are much easier when you have a network of people who see the value in what you are doing and offer their support.

Parallel Support Networks

We have all considered the possibility that key infrastructure might fail and we will need ways of obtaining everything from food and tools to protection and information. Building a network, especially a local network that isn’t dependent on digital communication, might very well be the defining factor in your ability to make it through any turbulent times ahead. You cannot wait until this get bad as the trust and loyalty necessary to keep these networks together and functioning effectively can only be proven by action and commitment over time.

Project Building

All parallel projects require a network of people. Not only will you need others who can help with building a project itself, but typically you need customers or an audience to provide your services to. Having a network of similarly minded and driven individuals means you will have access to the right people to make the parallel projects you are working on a success.

Network Structure

I am a big fan of creating intuitive terminology for the structure of a concept as a way to make discussion clear and simple while providing a framework that inherently identifies the key elements of consideration. After my own experiences networking in the parallel community, I would propose thinking of a network as defined by three key elements: Beacons, Bonds, and Momentum.

Beacons

All networks form around a central concept. Whether that is an idea, ideology, content, person, project, product, or purpose, that concept acts as a beacon. You can think of a beacon like a lighthouse or radio antenna sending out a signal. Not everyone will be able to receive it and it may not resonate with all of those who do, but you can feel confident that the people who are drawn by that beacon all share a foundational interest. Good beacons not only attract, but repel. Barriers to entry will more often than not enhance the quality of the people gathered around a beacon. Understanding this concept will be essential in finding or building good networks.

Bonds

While the signal of a beacon might resonate with you, a network is only as strong as the bonds between its members. I have seen many promising projects fall apart because there was no intentional focus on building up trust and connection between the members before asking for commitment. For any project or network to be successful, commitment is necessary. Networks run like machines and if parts are undependable, the system will slow down or even fall apart. Strong bonds of trust between members allows the network to weather difficult challenges as members are much more likely to be dependable and do what is necessary to keep the system running.

Momentum

For those of you who are not familiar with the concept of “lindy”, the longer something has existed, the more likely it will continue to exist. This is the same with networks. Many of the new networks will fall apart shortly after being launched. Think of how easy it is to meet someone and get their number, but how few of those people turn into long term friends. At the same time, many of us have a few friends who have been with us through thick and thin and we usually feel confident they will continue to do so. If a network has good sustained momentum, you can feel more confident it will continue to do so and thus is worthy of your commitment.

Preparing to Network

Any healthy relationship is built on healthy and reciprocal transaction. When considering how to network it is therefore necessary to not only understand what you are looking to get out of the network, but what you are capable and willing to contribute.

Interests and Intentions

There are many parallel networks out there and it will be to both your own and the network’s benefit if you become part of one that aligns with your own interests and intentions. This requires we take the time to reflect and think about what we are looking for in a network. Knowing what you are most passionate about will not only help you identify the networks you are most interested in, but that passion will help sustain your commitment through and challenges the network goes through over time. It should also give you metrics to understand if membership in that network is actually benefiting you and what you set out to achieve. Finally, it means you can clearly communicate to that network why you are interested in joining.

What You Bring to The Table

No network worth being a part of is going to give you access unless you can bring something to the table. Understanding what you can contribute before going out on your search is necessary to selling yourself to those networks. This is not only your experience and knowledge, but also resources and the degree you are willing to commit them. Most notably time. You should be honest about the amount of time you have to commit to any given network as mismatched expectations is one of the most fatal mistakes I have seen and will not only damage the network’s ability to function, but your own reputation as dependable.

Be Selective, Intentional, and Methodical

The most essential piece of advice I can give around networking is the importance of being selective. As I have already mentioned, the quality of the Beacon, Bonds, and Momentum of a network are essential to consider if you want to make an informed choice and not waste your time. I have seen many promising networks fall apart and it is painful to pick up the pieces and start over. This is most easily avoided by being selective and taking your time. If you keep the quality high and don’t get ahead of yourself, you will build the bonds necessary to take on increasingly big projects and be able to maintain good momentum.

Finding Networks

The easiest and best initial approach to networking is finding existing networks to become a part of, learn from, and contribute to. Here I will walk through the basic steps of Identifying, Sampling, Reflecting, and Committing.

Identify

At this point, it is pretty easy to see we can simply combine the two concepts of Beacons and Intentionality as the way to start this first step. If you know what you are looking for in a network, simply think of the beacons that exist that would align with those interests and look for the networks that surround them. You probably already have content creators online who you follow and many of them run group chats which are fairly easy to join. You might have groups or events in your area that would typically attract people who are of a similar mindset to your own like volunteer firefighters groups, farmers markets, camping groups, churches, and gun clubs. At this stage you aren’t committing to any of these, just identifying which ones align with your goals and could be promising.

Sample

The next step is trying these networks out. You aren’t making a commitment, just trying to get a feel. Think of those key elements I layed out earlier. How well defined is their Beacon and is it effective in attracting the right people and repelling the wrong types? Are the Bonds between the members strong and there seems to be a good sense of cohesion and trust? Does the network have good Momentum and a track record of success even though hard times? You can usually get a good feel for this pretty quickly through simple interaction, ideally in person.

It is important to point out that when you first find yourself in a new network, do not make assumptions about the ideologies of those involved. Let other people do the talking and keep your opinions measured. You don’t want to burn a potentially good network of people because you got too spicy right out of the gate. You don’t have to agree with everyone about everything and many times you can bring people along by establishing yourself first as someone who is competent and not by pushing your opinions.

I would also quickly add that you want to maintain good opsec when sampling networks. Do not share more information than is absolutely necessary. If you are meeting with someone, make it in a public place that isn’t too close to where you are located. If you are connecting online, keep initial channels through anonymous accounts. It is not so much that these people could be bad actors, but the biggest danger is those who are careless with their opsec. You also send a good signal to others by being careful about how you interact.

Reflect

Once you have gone to an event, been in a group chat, and had a few conversations with people in the network, you should take some time to reflect on the experience and consider if it is really something you want to commit to and to what degree. This might be intuitive, but you want to avoid people who do not seem grounded and stable, even if they have a similar worldview. Find networks where you respect the people associated with it. Reflect if this group could really help you achieve what you want in your own life and you can add to what they are doing.

Commit

Once you have found a network that fits what you are looking for, gotten a feel for it, and taken some time to reflect if it is the fit for you, you should make a clear commitment, at least to yourself. This doesn’t have to be something you announce, but knowing what you want to contribute and setting clear metrics makes it much easier to judge as you go whether to dial up or down, or break it off altogether. The worst thing you can do is exist in a limbo state where you are not dependable as this will only sour the relationship. People will respect if you set expectations as long as you are clear both ways.

Building Networks

Personal Network Building

One of the most important things to realize while you are networking is that you yourself are a beacon. People will either be drawn to or repealed from building a personal relationship with you based on the signal you put out in your interactions. If you are serious about parallel building, I highly recommend you think of yourself in these terms and start to build a personal network of your own. It could be as simple as starting a group chat with your close friends, holding get-togethers, or just keeping a rolodex of people and making sure to keep in touch.

Many times I have sampled networks only to realize they weren’t going to be viable in the long term, but still found many people who were attracted by network’s beacon and were worth connecting with. Many times these people are just looking for the right project to commit to and if you can maintain that relationship and connect them to projects you find down the road, you become the hub of your own network and create value in the parallel movement.

Building Your Own Beacon

Besides building your own personal network through one on one interactions, you can also build a new network by creating a visible beacon. Running local events like pickup leagues, social gatherings, or book clubs can be a great way to get to know people in your area and serves as an initial way to see who you can bring in on more serious projects. Creating content is a great way of finding people in the online space who have similar worldviews and this has been my own strategy for building out networks and making strong connections. If you are going to do this, you should always consider Beacon, Bonds, and Momentum with the network you are building.

Conclusion

My goal with this article has been to lay out a way of understanding networks and what is involved in finding or building your own. The best people to work with are those who are motivated to save themselves from the mainstream delusion and not who are looking for someone to save them. Having a high standard for the people you network with and being intentional with what you put your energy into means you are much more likely to be part of a network that actually produces benefits for you and the people you are connected with.

I hope this helps you find your place in the parallel movement and as always, feel free to reach out to me if you would like help with this. If you read all the way through and this resonated with you, you are probably someone I want to talk to.

Hail The Builders and good luck on your journey!