Hey Reader,

What if one introduction could completely change the trajectory of your career?

Back in 2018, I was frustrated at my job. I loved the work I was doing, but I knew I wasn’t being paid what I was worth.

I remember having dinner at my parents’ house one night, and afterward, stepping outside to get some fresh air and clear my head.

Then the idea popped into my mind:

What if I started my own firm? Then I could decide what I was worth.

Almost immediately, I knew the first problem I had to solve: I needed clients.

So I thought back to someone I had interviewed with a few years earlier. The opportunity never worked out, but I remembered him being well-connected. So I reached out.

And to my surprise, he knew someone who needed exactly what I was offering. He made the introduction.

What I didn’t know at the time was that this one introduction would become the most influential introduction of my entire career.

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Most people think their network is limited to the people they directly know. And for most of us, that number probably tops out around 250 people.

But when you consider that each of those people knows roughly 250 people, your network becomes much bigger than it feels.

The real power is not only in who you know. It is in who they know, and whether they trust you enough to make an introduction.

I’ve seen this over and over again in my own life. One introduction helped me start my firm.

One venture capital partner helped me close multiple six figures in business.

Even one family connection helped me get into the high school I dreamed of attending.

And that’s the strange thing about networking.

Most conversations will not change your life.

Many events will feel exhausting. A lot of follow-ups will go nowhere. But you do not need every relationship to become life-changing.

You only need a few of the right people to open the right doors at the right time. And this is not only about career advancement.

As you get older, relationships take more effort because life no longer forces you into the same rooms as your friends.

Staying in touch, checking in, and being there for people is part of building a meaningful network.

And in many ways, a meaningful life.

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A strong network is especially valuable in finance and accounting, where the work is sensitive.

People are trusting you with payroll, cash flow, taxes, reporting, forecasts, and business decisions.

So when they hire someone, recommend someone, or make an introduction, trust matters more than almost anything else.

That is why your existing network is usually the best place to start.

If you are looking for your next job, your first client, a mentor, a promotion, or a new opportunity, start with the people who already know you.

There is a good chance someone can help you, either directly or through their own network.

But here is the part most people miss.

A network is not something you build only when you need something.

It is something you invest in over time.

That means going to events, grabbing coffee with people, checking in with old coworkers, staying close with friends, and being genuinely helpful when you have nothing to gain.

It also means letting people know what you are working on. Your network cannot help you if they do not know what you do.

So tell people what you are building.

Be specific about who you help.

Reconnect with old coworkers, clients, classmates, managers, vendors, attorneys, investors, bookkeepers, accountants, and anyone else who may be adjacent to the type of opportunity you are looking for.

And when you do, do not make every conversation a favor request.

Ask for advice. Offer help. Make introductions.

Support your friends when life gets hard.

Celebrate people when things go well. Be the person who shows up before you need anything.

Because when you consistently show up for other people, people start showing up for you in ways you never could have planned

I ended up scheduling the call.

He walked me through his business, explained what he needed, and it turned out he was looking for help building a financial model.

So I built one.

Then he needed a little more help here and there. At first, it was nights and weekends.

Then it turned into covering someone’s maternity leave.

Eventually, he needed me for 20 hours a week and was willing to match the salary I was making at my full-time job.

That was the moment everything changed.

I never could have imagined that one introduction would eventually lead me here, as our firm gets ready to celebrate its seven year anniversary.

And that is just one of the many people I’ve met who changed the direction of my career.

And for you…maybe the next door you need is not locked.

Maybe you just need the right person to open it.

Now I’d love to know…

What’s one introduction that changed your career?

Hit reply and let me know - I read each and every response.

Have a great weekend,
Josh
Your CFO Guy