David Burkus is author of “Friend of a Friend: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career.” David has delivered keynotes to leaders of Fortune 500 companies and future leaders of the United States Naval Academy. His TED talk has been viewed almost 2 million times and he is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review. What if the advice we have all heard about networking is wrong? David outlines the right way to network in the modern age. How do you meet people? How do you meet the right people? Once you meet those people, what do you do with the relationship? Maybe you haven’t talked to someone for a few years but you could still call him or her up and have a personal talk with them. This is an example of one of the most useful networking ties, known as a “dormant tie.” David uses UFC founders, Dana White and Lorenzo Lamas, as an example. They went to high school together, hadn’t talked for years, both had a passion for fighting, but lived in different spheres of the fighting community. After reconnecting at a high school get together they realized they had some aligning career aspirations. They ended up buying the UFC and made it the fastest growing sport in history. When you start taking chances on meeting people and putting yourself out there, that is when your network really expands. David shares another example of a movie producer who got his foot in the door by getting creative, taking some risks, and reaching out to the right people for conversations. Who do you know? Who do your friends know? Where do you know them from? These are basic questions that can get the ball rolling when trying to expand your network. Knowing a ton of people is not necessary to be successful, you just need to know the right people to give yourself credibility. Shared activities and hobbies are ways to draw in a set of diverse people to build deep relationships. Networking events have become a thing of the past (thank goodness). In this episode of Trend Following Radio: Curiosity conversations LinkedIn Network science Self observation Dormant ties Robust networks Network science The majority illusion The spread of Facebook