Stop Networking. Start Making Yourself Unignorable
The best opportunities don’t come from chasing people. They come from creating pull.
You won’t get your next opportunity by "networking harder."
You attend 30 coffee chats.
You cold-message executives on LinkedIn.
You sit awkwardly in "virtual happy hours," smiling through your teeth.
Nothing happens.
Instead, you must do something radical:
Make yourself too valuable to ignore.
The offers will start pouring in.
No chasing. No hustling. No begging.
The Brutal Truth About Networking No One Tells You
You’ve been lied to.
They tell you to network.
They tell you to put yourself out there.
They tell you to stay visible.
Here’s what they don’t tell you:
If you’re chasing, you’re not choosing.
You’re signaling lower status without even realizing it.
The truth is:
The best opportunities don’t come from chasing connections.
They come from creating pull.
When you build pull, you flip the script:
Instead of you hunting for roles, people hunt for you.
Instead of you asking for meetings, people ask for your advice.
Instead of you proving yourself, people assume you’re the solution.
And trust me…
The power difference between being a "networker" and being a "magnet" is career-changing.
How to Create Pull (Instead of Chasing People)
If you’re burnt out from trying to "stay connected," here’s your escape hatch:
Position yourself as indispensable.
Pull isn’t about being everywhere.
Pull is about being known for one powerful thing people can’t afford to lose.
Here’s the simple formula:
Specific Problem + Visible Wins + Unique POV = Pull
Let me break it down:
1. Specific Problem
Generalists get ignored.
Specialists get sought out.
Be famous for solving a painful, urgent problem.
Not “I’m good at operations.”
But “I’m the person who fixes broken project teams before they tank deadlines.”
Not “I’m a strong communicator.”
But “I’m the one who gets two warring departments back on the same page in 90 days.”
Get scary specific.
When you’re the "go-to" for a real business pain, pull starts happening.
2. Visible Wins
Quiet excellence is professional suicide.
You can be the most competent person in the building—but if no one knows or remembers what you’ve done, it doesn’t matter.
Here’s what you must start doing:
Sending brief, specific updates to leadership:
"Identified 3 vendor delays early → preempted 6 weeks of project slip → saved $120K in penalties."Publicly recognize your team’s wins (and your part in them) during key meetings.
Publish quick insights on project retros:
“5 lessons we learned launching X under tight deadlines.”
Show your wins. Frame your wins.
Or don’t be surprised when someone else gets the prize.
3. Unique Point of View
Skills are common. Point of view is rare.
You don’t need to be controversial for the sake of it.
But you do need to have a lens—a way of seeing problems—that people remember.
Example:
Everyone says “communicate more.”
You say “communicate less—but more decisively.”
Suddenly, you're memorable.
Your POV shapes your reputation.
Your reputation shapes your pull.
Warning: If You Don’t Build Pull, You’ll Always Be on Defense
If you don't build pull, here's what happens:
You’ll keep applying for roles and hearing crickets.
You’ll waste energy on meetings with people who "might" help you someday.
You’ll keep selling yourself in every conversation—while others quietly get tapped on the shoulder for opportunities.
Pull is freedom.
Chasing is forced slavery.
Choose carefully.
Here Is How You Flip The Script
After you stop networking aimlessly and start creating pull, here’s what will change for you:
Invitations: Senior leaders will reach out asking if could help on high-visibility initiatives.
Mentorship: They will offer to sponsor you without you asking.
Options: You can negotiate a salary bump—even before even moving to a new role, because leadership wants to keep you.
Not because you "know the right people."
But because you became the right person.
Your Personalized Challenge: Build Your Pull Engine This Week
I’m not going to leave you hanging.
Here’s exactly what to do starting today:
Pick your specific problem:
Write down in one sentence:
"I’m the person who solves ___ for ___."Highlight one visible win:
Choose a win from the past 90 days.
Frame it in this structure:
Problem → Action → Impact.Craft your unique POV:
Finish this sentence:
“Most people think ___. I believe ___.”
That’s your starting block.
Your pull engine.
Plant it. Water it. Watch the opportunities find you.
Final Word
If you’re tired of feeling like you have to chase, prove, and hustle…
If you’re ready to reclaim your autonomy, your sanity, and your seat at the table…
Stop networking. Start creating pull.
Make yourself the person they can’t afford to lose.
Because when you become indispensable,
You don’t have to chase.
You get to choose.
See you next Tuesday at 10 AM IST.
—Vijaya
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Always better to be the seller than the buyer in most situations :)
Hope you are having a great week Vijaya - it's already Wednesday!
> Generalists get ignored.
> Specialists get sought out.
I'll have to disagree with that, and that's a recurring topic people I manage bring frequently (even my son brought it 2 days ago).
This is true when you're still junior. Being a specialist gets you somewhere. But with 20 years of experience, you're expected to develop skills in several fields. If you want to be pivotal within your organization, being a generalist becomes a key asset