Why You Should Focus On Building Connections, Not Networks

JourneyNorth Podcast | Season 01 | EP 08

As I progress in my university journey, the importance of networking has been highlighted time and again, both by my professors and seniors alike.

As the quote goes, “Your network is your net worth”.

In this episode, Sam talked about the difference between networks and connections, and how he leveraged on his connections to build up a strong personal brand to spread his message and passion for Human Resources (HR).

Who Is Sam Neo?

Sam is the founder of 2 start-ups, People Mentality Inc, one of APAC’s top 10 HR and Employer Branding consultancy firm that helps organizations become an Employer of Choice, and Stories of Asia, a story-tech platform that was set up to empower the Asian community with a voice through storytelling.

Prior to his ventures, Sam was a HR professional in market-leading companies such as Keppel Corporation and Changi Airport Group. As a trusted advisor, he has worked with leaders in various large and reputable organizations such as Samsung, Singtel Group, Under Armour, ING Bank, and more.

As a millennial HR thought leader, he is regularly invited to deliver keynotes at conferences globally. Sam has also been invited to share his insights as a HR and Millennial expert on national TV and radio channels, as well as being featured on major publications such as The Business Times and Straits Times.

Constantly Ask Yourself, “What’s Next?”

“What’s next?” – this is a question Sam constantly poses to himself which guides his thought process. He is always asking himself how he can get better, and how he can plan ahead towards more exciting times.

It is this forward-looking mindset that has guided Sam in his decision-making process, and I believe it is a good question to pose to ourselves as well.

What’s next for you?

Connections vs Networks

In Sam’s opinion, building strong personal branding and relationships is crucial. It is also what formed the bedrock of his achievements to date. While we might be familiar with the need for networking, Sam argues that it is not the network that counts, but the connections.

What’s the difference? Networks are defined by the number of name cards you collect, or the number of people you “know”. On the other hand, connections are people whom you know well enough that you can turn to in times of hardship.

A simple litmus test is, if you pick up your phone now, how many of these networks actually respond to your calls?

Thus, we should aim to go one step further than simply building our network, to build connections.

Networking is really important, but beyond networking, it’s not just about the network. It’s about the connection.

Sam Neo, Founder of People Mentality Inc & Stories of Asia

How Young Professionals Can Appeal To Employers

Gone are the days where certifications are all that matter. Sure, there are organisations which still place an emphasis on grades, but the workforce is increasingly shifting towards the search for value-add.

As a HR professional and employer himself, Sam values versatility and people who can help him solve his problems. In fact, due to the speed of change nowadays, he prefers generalists over specialists. He looks for people who have the ability, capacity, and attitude to want to do more.

Therefore, young professionals should not merely focus on the grades, and neglect other areas where they can showcase their abilities.

Look For Your “Vehicle” To Spread Your Message

Regardless of the role you hold or the type of environment you work in, be it in corporate or as an entrepreneur, consider which “vehicle” suits you better to get you to the end goal itself.

For Sam, he didn’t think of his entrepreneurship journey as an entrepreneurship venture altogether. Rather, he sees it as a vehicle that helps him get to where he wants to be and get his message out.

It’s an interesting perspective that takes the doubt out of the equation.

Personal Thoughts

I love the “vehicle” message brought up by Sam, because it brings about a different perspective. Instead of focusing on the financial projections, or the sales numbers you need to hit for your business, think in terms of the message you want to spread, or the impact you want to create.

If you are able to use the medium you possess to spread your message, you would already have attained the same objective.

Show Notes:

• Check out Stories of Asia
• Connect with Sam on LinkedIn

Hosted by Marcus Cheu. Connect with me on LinkedIn & Instagram.

If you'd like to tune in to the full episode, you can check out the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.