- Be More Relatable
- Posts
- Stop holding back your gifts
I write weekly about the strategies, habits, and tactics around cultivating the connections that matter to you.
I was having coffee with my friend Sarah the other day — the kind of catch-up where you’re both half-laughing, half-venting, and fully caffeinated. At some point, she looked down at her cup and said, "I feel like I'm bothering people when I reach out".
Sarah's a brilliant strategic operations consultant who'd helped dozens of companies streamline their processes, saving them millions.
"But they're paying you" I reminded her.
"That's different. I'm talking about all the small insights I have that might help people I know professionally, but they haven't specifically asked for my help".
Sarah had been sitting on numerous observations that could transform her colleagues businesses – everything from a simple Excel template that automated reporting to observations about hiring patterns in their industry. She viewed sharing these insights as being pushy rather than what it really was: giving a gift.
What Sarah needed was a mindset shift, from seeing her knowledge as an intrusion to recognizing it as a gift others deserved access to.
The gifts you're withholding
Think about what you know, what you've experienced, what you've discovered that others might benefit from:
Your specialized business knowledge: That project management method you developed. The hiring rubric that's never failed you. The CRM workflow that saves your team 10 hours a week. These aren't just tools you use; they're gifts others would treasure.
Your industry insights: Your analysis of emerging trends. The patterns you've spotted in customer behavior. The books that shaped your leadership philosophy. Your perspective might be exactly what someone else needs.
Your professional experience: How you navigated a difficult stakeholder. The way you structured your last negotiation. The tools you use to maintain work-life boundaries. Others could learn from both your successes and failures.
Your unique connections: You know people who know people. Making introductions costs you nothing but could change someone's business trajectory entirely.
And yes, those personal elements matter too:
The gardening method that helps you decompress after stressful workdays
The playlist that gets you through intense focus sessions
The parenting hack that helped you manage remote work with kids at home
The travel tips you've accumulated through years of business trips
When you withhold these gifts from your network, you're not being considerate - you're being selfish.
Why we hold back
We create artificial boundaries around what's "appropriate" to share:
"They didn't hire me for this advice"
"I should only speak when spoken to"
"I don't want to seem like I'm showing off"
"My insights probably aren't that unique"
But real relationships—even professional ones—thrive when we contribute generously without being asked.
Taking action
Start small:
Create a "Friday insight" habit - share one useful business observation with someone in your network each week.
When you solve a complex work problem, document your approach and send it to a colleague facing similar challenges.
After attending an industry conference, compile your three most valuable takeaways and share them with peers who couldn't attend.
Set up a system to track business articles, tools, or resources you find valuable, tagged by who in your network might benefit.
Include a "what I'm listening to/reading/learning" section in your LinkedIn profile or email signature.
Remember what Maya Angelou wisely observed: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Your unique gifts—whether they're business insights or podcast recommendations—might be exactly what makes someone else feel supported, inspired, or understood today.
Stop withholding. Start giving. Your network will thank you—and you'll build the kind of relationships that transcend transactions.
Unti next week - Zvi
P.S. If you ever think, “I wonder if this would help someone…” — it probably would. And even if it doesn’t, it’ll show them you care. You’ve got nothing to lose.
Feedback is a gift! What did you think this week? |
Before you put tons of effort into networking, make sure you’re not skipping these three essentials! I’ve seen even experienced professionals struggle because they forget these simple but crucial steps.
Topics Covered:
The 3 things you must have before diving into networking
How to build authentic relationships without feeling sleazy
Why being good at what you do matters more than who you know
The power of being interesting—and actually sharing it
How confidence changes everything in networking
You can see all my videos and interviews on my channel! If you find these helpful, I’d appreciate a like, subscribe, and share with a friend, colleague, or enemy.