Think about the last time you scanned your contacts—LinkedIn, your phone, your mental “network.” How many are real? Not just names or profiles, but people with substance.
A real contact hits different. You’d spot them in a crowd—maybe from a conference or a call that stuck. You know a bit: kids, a hobby, their hometown. Nothing heavy, just enough. They know you, too.
Would you grab a beer if you were nearby? Not out of duty, but because it fits? That’s a clue. Trust counts—could you ping them for a favor and get a reply? There’s a thread: chats, calls, a shared moment, not just a click.
Picture that ortho coworker you’d meet at AAOS, whose take you’d trust. Real. Then that webinar “connection” from years back—no calls, no context. Fake.
So, think: Who’s real? Someone you’d recognize, rely on, see. The rest? Just noise. Who’s on your list—and why hold onto phantoms?...
