Objective – To share a founder-focused perspective on networking events through a personal storytelling lens that highlights long-term value over surface-level interactions.

Time Required – 2–3 hours including ideation, drafting, and final edits.

Tools Used – Google Docs for writing, LinkedIn for tone benchmarking, journal notes for personal anecdotes

Conclusion – The post reflects how my earliest internship through a barter-based networking opportunity led to real roles and brand work. It performed well because it felt real — not preachy — and underlined that smart networking is more about intention than hustle.