Networking Kills: Success Through ServingSample

Success Through Serving

College freshmen are lectured about it on their first day of class. Young professionals race to one more boring party, so they can be seen and shake hands with someone that might be able to help them—just like the business books and podcasts have instructed. Young musicians are chronically obsessed and depressed with their number of likes, views and followers on their social media. 

Today, for almost any definition of success we might identify, there is one common path to achieve it that is being shoved down our throats—networking, or cultivating relationships that can help us advance or move to a higher position. 

There are serious problems with this single path to success.

First, networking kills authentic relationships. My students at Belmont University, where I teach, will say: “I hate the idea of trying to meet people for the sole purpose of personal gain, but I’ve reluctantly believed that it's the only way to ‘make’ a career happen.” It shouldn’t have to be that way.

A Harvard study has proven that professional networking actually makes people feel dirty or morally impure. And networking contradicts the nature of God within us. His identity is centered on love—giving generously and sacrificially—not taking and using for your own benefit.

Of course, we do need others to succeed—“real” relationships and collaboration are so important in every successful area of life. So, what is the solution to finding success?

I believe the best place to find the answer is to simply see what Jesus had to say about finding success. The Bible tells us about an intense meeting that Jesus had with a bold “stage mom” and her two teenage wannabe boys: James and John. She demanded: “Jesus, fix it, so that my two sons will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom—one on your right and the other to your left.” Without mincing words, Jesus said: “Whoever wants to be great (or a leader) must become a servant .” (Matthew 20:20-24)

So, Jesus taught us that serving is not only the “path” to success, it is success in itself.

And here is some really good news! This is for all of us!

Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “Anybody can be great, because anybody can serve.” 

Reflection

How do you personally identify with the pressure to use professional networking skills or to network through social media to achieve some level of success? How does Jesus describe the path to success and greatness in life? How does his instruction compare with what the media, business and culture currently teach us about finding success through networking?