Networking is designing the right dining table
Your network has a limited number of chairs. Choose who sits there.
Some of my clearest thinking happens on the road, and this one came together on a trip to Papua New Guinea. Think of your network as a dining table with a limited number of chairs. Each chair is someone in your network. It runs on time, energy, and proximity, all finite resources. Not everyone can sit there, and not everyone should. The people at your table shape your thinking, your standards, your opportunities, and your direction.
So the question becomes: who do you want seated at your table?
If every chair is occupied by default, there is no space for someone new who might be more aligned with where you are going. That means occasionally reassessing who is sitting there, and whether they still fit.
Review your table
Start the year by looking at it honestly. Who adds value? Who is aligned with your goals, in finance, health, or travel? Who drains energy without giving anything back?
That lets you make space for new connections, selectively. People already moving in a similar direction. People worth the time it takes to build real trust.
Networking is not about expanding the room. It is about curating the table.