If You're Looking for an Opportunity, Then You're Looking for People.

Joseph Priestley, networked for science

 

[B]reakout opportunities are what transform your career. Opportunities do not float like clouds. They are firmly attached to individuals. If you’re looking for an opportunity, you’re really looking for people. If you’re evaluating an opportunity, you’re really evaluating people. If you’re trying to marshal resources to go after an opportunity, you’re really trying to enlist the support and involvement of other people. A company doesn’t offer you a job, people do. Opportunities flow through congregations of people. Those with good ideas and information tend to hang out with one another. You will get ahead if you can tap the circles that dish the best opportunities. In fact, it’s how people have gotten ahead for centuries.

-Reid Hoffman, in LinkedIn post "Connect to Human Networks To Find Breakout Opportunities"

Every word of that is worth reading again.