Think Like A Gardener

On this episode, I talk about something that comes up all the time in my coaching sessions with MBA students—and that’s networking. I've talked about it before on the podcast on episode 1202 "Reframe the way you think about networking and asking for help" I'll drop a link in the show notes.  I encourage you to go back and give that one a listen.

 

As generative AI has proliferated on both sides of the job search with candidates using it to submit more and more customized applications, and recruiters using it to filter through piles of hundreds or thousands of applicants, relationships are once again increasingly important in learning about opportunities before they are public, and securing interview invites.

 

So many job seekers have what I call the hunter/gatherer mindset in their job search: they scour job boards for opportunities, and submit applications.  I would encourage anyone in an active job search -- or anyone who thinks they might be in an active job search in the next 6 to 18 months, to adopt what I call the gardener mindset.

 

Let’s dig in. (no pun intended)

 

If you’re like many MBA students—or honestly, professionals at any stage—you may have a complicated relationship with networking.

You know you’re supposed to do it. You’ve heard it's important.

But maybe it feels awkward. Transactional. A little sleezy even. I picture Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho with his heavy-bond embossed business card.

 

Maybe you don’t want to “bother” people. Or maybe you're waiting until you have a clear goal or ask before reaching out.

I get it. That hesitation is totally normal.

But here’s the thing—networking is not a one-time transaction. It’s not about reaching out only when you need something. It’s not just about collecting contacts on linkedin like pokemon cards.

Networking—effective, sustainable, authentic networking—is about building relationships over time.

That’s where the gardener mindset comes in.

 

Imagine you're a gardener.

You don’t just toss seeds into the dirt one day and expect to harvest a salad the next.

 

You prepare the soil. You plant a variety of seeds. You water them. You protect them from frost. You wait. You come back to check on them. Sometimes they sprout. Sometimes they don’t. Different plants mature on different schedules. Some may require years before you are ready to harvest anything.

 

The same is true for relationships in your professional life.

When you meet someone at an event, or reach out for a coffee chat—you’re planting a seed. Having that conversation is watering it.

Following up with an authentic note is watering it.

Another follow up after you took some advice they gave you… is watering it

Sharing an article or podcast with them, or  an update on your journey—that’s watering it.

 

When you refer someone else to them, or cheer on their LinkedIn update—that’s tending the garden.

 

You’re not always sure which seeds will grow or when they’ll bloom. But if you keep showing up, nurturing those relationships, you’ll start to see the garden take shape.

And here’s the beautiful thing: relationships compound over time.

Opportunities, referrals, mentorship—they often emerge from the people you’ve been in touch with for years, not just weeks. But you have to invest in those relationships before you “need” them.

 

 

So how do you network like a gardener?

It's like the old saying, when's the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. When's the second best time? Today.  So Here are a few quick tips:

1. Start early.  Plant the seeds now. Just like a health garden will be diverse, you need a diverse strategy: reach out to current contacts, reconnect with old contacts, attend events to make new contacts.
2. Be curious, not transactional. Ask questions about their path. Their decision points. What they’ve learned. I love Steve Dalton's TIARA framework for informational interviews, that stands for asking questions about Trends, Insights, Advice, Recommendations, and Assignments they are working on. Listen to my conversation with Steven, I'll drop a link in the show notes.
3. Follow up thoughtfully. A quick note saying “Thanks again, I found your advice helpful” and specifically name what was helpful! A personal message -- it doesn't have to be long -- will go a long way.
4. Give back when you can. Share an article. Introduce someone. Celebrate their wins. Ask them if there is anything you can do for them in return. That kind of reciprocity can build rapport.
5. Track your outreach. Not to be mechanical—but to stay organized. Relationships grow with attention. Especially when you are in a more active phase of your search, develop a system for tracking your contacts. This can be as simple as a spreadsheet, or something more robust like a CRM.

 

Networking isn’t about having the perfect pitch--or heavy bond, embossed business card. It’s about building trust, credibility, and rapport.

It’s about investing in people and communities over time—knowing that some of those relationships will blossom into opportunities in ways you can’t predict right now.

So as you move through your MBA, or any career transition, I invite you to think like a gardener.

Be patient. Be intentional. Keep planting. Keep watering.

 

And trust that the harvest will come.