Your Village Is Your Biggest Career Resource

We tend to think of career growth as something that happens in secret. A completely different circle than your personal one. The lie is that people want to keep business and personal life separate. Polishing résumés, sending applications, or scrolling job boards late at night.

But in my experience, the biggest opportunities haven’t come from algorithms or cold applications. They’ve come directly from people I know. And not just “networking” in the formal sense, but from the everyday relationships and rhythms that make up my life. The people who know me as a reliable friend, a helpful neighbor, a steady teammate, and someone who shows up when they say they will.

Showing up in your personal relationships builds trust that opens doors. When people see you consistently showing up for your community: your friends, your family, your kid’s school fundraiser, your local sports team, or your neighbor who needs a hand, they start to connect that reliability with your professional reputation. In their eyes, being dependable in life often signals you’ll be dependable in work. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present, trustworthy, and generous with your energy.

I can trace almost every new business relationship I’ve had back to someone who first knew me in my “village” life. My very first clients were a couple I plan to be friends with forever. Another connection came when a friend ran into my boss at a concert. When he mentioned he needed an assistant, and she immediately remembered that’s exactly what I do. An old swim teammate introduced me to my first out-of-state client in Arizona. 

None of those opportunities came from polished applications. They came because people trusted my character. Friends and connections have spoken my name in professional spaces simply because they know me as someone who is reliable and willing to show up.

Those small, consistent acts of reliability ripple outward. Someone remembers you. Someone mentions your name. And suddenly, you’re getting a message from a potential client or employer who feels like they already know you because they trust the people who trust you.

Career success is rooted in character and connection outside of your job. The next time you think about career growth, consider looking closer to home. Instead of thinking only about who can give you a job, think about who you can simply show up for. Because your village may be the most powerful reference you’ll ever have.