College freshmen are lectured about networking on their first day of class. Young professionals race to another boring party so they can be seen and shake hands with someone who might be able to help them–just like the business books and podcasts have instructed. Creatives are chronically obsessed with and depressed by the number of likes, views and followers on their social media. Anyone embarking upon a new path or business venture has heard the key to success lies in networking–who you know, and how they can get you ahead. But, according to Mark H. Maxwell, this is not only untrue, but potentially dangerous to those hoping to succeed.
Networking Kills lays out what the Bible and Jesus say about true success. Weaving scripture with Maxwell’s own stories from his professional career and pop culture illustrations (John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Kardashian, Johnny Cash), Networking Kills examines the need for cultural change concerning our pursuit and definition of "success" in every area of life, and shows how serving is actually the key.
“Christ taught, ‘If you want to be great, you must become a servant,'” Maxwell says. “And, Martin Luther King, Jr., made it clear, ‘Anybody can be great, because anybody can serve.' Even music business super-manager, Scooter Braun (Justin Bieber) says, ‘Don’t live for yourself…Live for others...that is where you will find true riches in life.’ The heart of networking is rooted in selfishness, taking and using, while the great leaders teach us that true success comes through giving, loving others and serving generously.”
In Networking Kills, Maxwell shows how:
- Networking kills creativity
- Networking kills authentic relationships
- Networking kills life
- Networking kills love
He then lays out the amazing benefits that can come from living a life that is focused on service:
- Serving erases fear of failure
- Serving erases conflict
- Serving creates purpose
- Serving creates value
- Serving creates provision
- Serving changes the world
Networking Kills proves that to experience true success and fulfillment, and in an effort to obey God, this lens of serving must become the basis for all of our daily decision-making and our major life assignments. Serving attracts us to and is attractive to others; when people can sense you genuinely care, walls come down and true relationships form. And that is more powerful than any business card exchange, forced cocktail hour conversation or Instagram follow. That is how you can truly change the world–one person at a time.
