There’s a pattern I’ve started to notice in my career…

Superpowers are a thing.

I’m usually not the smartest person in the room.
Like…ever.

I’m not the technical expert.
(Those who know me can stop laughing any time now.)

And I’m rarely the one building the product.

But I do seem to have one consistent advantage.

I build like and trust with people quickly.

Some people call it networking…

I don’t.

Networking always felt transactional to me.
Like everyone is keeping score.

What I actually enjoy is conversation.

Understanding how someone thinks.
Learning their story.
Seeing what they’re trying to build.

And more often than not…when someone feels understood, trust shows up pretty quickly.

At some point I realized something…

This might actually be my superpower.

Not selling.
Not pitching.

Connecting.

Connecting people.
Connecting ideas.
Connecting opportunities that may not have crossed paths otherwise.

When trust is there…things tend to move.

Introductions happen.
Doors open.
Partnerships form.

Most of the best opportunities in my career didn’t come from resumes or job postings.

They came from relationships built one conversation at a time.

Which is probably why I still enjoy talking with interesting people more than almost anything else in business.

You never know what might come out of a conversation where trust shows up early.

By Chris Errington