The Seasons of Your Network: Why January Isn't the Time for Sprinklers

I write weekly about the strategies, habits, and tactics around cultivating the connections that matter to you.

I'm currently staring out my window at single-digit temperatures, desperately trying to remember what warmth feels like. My kids keep asking if they can play in the sprinkler. Hard no, tiny humans.

But it got me thinking about seasons - not just the weather kind, but the seasons we go through with our relationships and network.

Just as you wouldn't break out the swimsuits in January (unless you're one of those lucky folks in the southern hemisphere), there are times when certain networking approaches just don't make sense for where you are in life.

The Four Seasons of Networking

“Spring” - Planting New Seeds

This is your expansion phase. Maybe you're:

• Breaking into a new industry

• Starting a company

• Moving to a new city

• Looking for your next opportunity

I found myself here in 2022 when I dove into a completely new industry. I was that awkward new kid at lunch, having to build an entirely new network from scratch.

“Summer” - Nurturing Growth

You're focused on deepening existing relationships rather than making new ones. Your calendar is probably full of:

• Follow-up coffees

• Regular check-ins

• Deepening conversations

• Actually reading those newsletters you subscribed to (👋🏼)

“Fall” - Harvesting Connections

This is when those relationships start bearing fruit:

• Referrals flow naturally

• Collaborations emerge

• You're everyone's first call when opportunities arise

• Your network starts working for you

Winter - Selective Hibernation

Sometimes you need to pull back and be extremely selective. Maybe you're:

• Heads down on a big project

• Dealing with family obligations

• Conserving energy

• Focusing only on your closest connections

These ‘seasons’ aren’t about the weather, they’re the phases your networking naturally moves through depending on your focus, capacity, and season of life.

Taking Action

1. Identify your current season. Be honest about where you are right now.

2. Align your networking strategy accordingly. Don't try to plant new seeds if you're in a winter phase.

3. Remember: seasons change. What works now might not work in six months.

4. Give yourself permission to say no to new connections if you're in a cultivation or hibernation phase.

I'm currently in a winter phase myself - saying no to most new connections while focusing deeply on existing relationships and specific projects. But I know spring will come again (literally and metaphorically), and with it, new opportunities for growth. And maybe some new waterguns to pester my kids with.

Until next week, Zvi

P.S. What networking season are you in right now? Hit reply and let me know - I'm genuinely curious.

On YouTube: Your 2026 Network Plan Starts With One Thing: Last Year’s Calendar

Before jumping into 2026, take a few minutes to look back at the people you spent time with last year. This simple calendar review helps you figure out who energizes you, who drains you, and who you don’t actually need to keep forcing yourself to stay in touch with.

Topics covered in this video:*

• A simple way to review last year’s meetings without overthinking it

• How to spot energy-givers vs. energy-drainers in your relationships

• When it’s okay to let certain connections naturally fade

• Why connection matters more than “importance” or status

• How to plan your relationships more intentionally going into 2026

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.

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