Stand Where Success Can Find You

We all know colleagues who seem to make opportunity look effortless. They can talk to anyone. They ask for what they want without hesitation. They advocate for themselves and their careers with ease.

If that’s not your natural style, it can be tempting to assume they have some secret advantage you don’t. But I see something else at play, something far more learnable. They start by standing where success can find them.

Not by self-promotion or endless networking tactics, but by consistently putting themselves in proximity to what they’re curious about.

Reframe “networking”

For many people, networking feels transactional, awkward, or exhausting. A better frame is you’re not networking, you’re learning.  Learning about topics that interest you, from people who have experience you don’t, to understand what is possible. When you approach connections with genuine curiosity, the pressure drops

and the value rises.

Reach out to learn, not to ask

LinkedIn outreach doesn’t have to feel salesy. If someone does work you’re interested in, or has experience you don’t yet have, reach out with the intention to learn. Most people are genuinely flattered to be asked about their path, their thinking, or their lessons learned.

You’re not asking for a favor. You’re signaling respect and curiosity. That’s a powerful combination.

Make your aspirations visible

One of the quiet career mistakes I see is assuming that good work alone will speak for itself. Your manager—and other leaders—can’t support aspirations they don’t know about.

You don’t need a grand declaration. Simply mentioning what you’re interested in, what you’re exploring, or what you’d like to learn more about helps others connect you to opportunities, projects, and conversations that matter. Visibility isn’t about bravado. It’s about clarity.

Success Finds Those Who Show Up

Standing where success can find you isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about placing yourself, intentionally and repeatedly, in environments where learning, connection, and opportunity naturally intersect. Curiosity creates conversations, which create relationships, which create momentum.

You don’t always need to chase success. Start by standing where it can find you.