On the Introvert's Edge to Networking

I picked this up because I don’t actually know how to network with new people and, recognizing that I’m an introvert, figured this would be a good place to learn. I wasn’t impressed. Matthew Pollard is impressive in the way he markets himself, and he’s an introvert too, but it reads as more fluff than substance. More than any other field, the book will appeal to people in sales. How do you sell whatever it is you’ve got? You “identify your niche” and explain why it matters — others may not know what they want until you bring it up — and it has to be something unique. Say “I’m a gardener” and you’ll be ignored at the networking event; something like this, on the other hand, will get you much further:

✨ I cast magic spells that will build you a Japanese Zen garden in the middle of the Sonora Desert ✨

There are some rudimentary skills Pollard rightly insists we need — strong listening, the ability to ask the right questions, branding — and with them, supposedly, any introvert can thrive. Instead of “I’m a gardener,” say “I’m a bio-enchantress!” Great stuff. In spite of my cynicism I gave it real time, and there are occasional nuggets, but the fundamental problem is that the book didn’t need to be written. There does need to be good writing to help introverts build networking skills; this isn’t it. It does something else — it sells Pollard as a life coach you can hire. I have little doubt about his ability as a career coach, especially one-on-one, but he isn’t a writer, and that’s too bad, because I was hoping for something helpful and interesting.