You’ve likely been told to ‘expand your network’. As a graduate, professional or entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard all about the power of networking for your personal brand, career or business. But, what if you’re networking all wrong? And the secret to the success or failure of your professional development lies somewhere else. This isn’t another lecture about the art of networking or how to hack networking. It’s about a career mind-shift that’s more valuable. Who you spend your time with outside of work, your business and your career is likely having the most profound impact on your success or failure. There’s a misconception that personal branding is all about professional networking. But, if you’re looking at personal branding this way, you’re likely doing it wrong. And missing the importance of your life outside of your work, business or career overall. Your ‘networks’ can have a huge impact on your career and life. The problem occurs when you focus so much on expanding your professional network - “making contacts” or “making connections” - that you forget about the power of your social network. As well as the many social circles that surround it. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 tips for taking a closer look at your social circle and the influence or impact it might be having on you. Use these tips to set your personal brand, marketing, business and personal development up for success. What do you think? Is it time we stopped overemphasising “networking” and “making contacts” in business and professional development?