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Networking is often viewed as a daunting and self-serving task, filled with awkward conversations and the uncomfortable feeling of asking for things. A simple life hack that completely reframes this process is the “Five-Minute Favor.” The core principle is to proactively and consistently find small ways to add value to the lives of people in your professional and personal network, in five minutes or less, without ever expecting anything in return. This subtle shift from a “what can I get?” to a “what can I give?” mindset is one of the most effective strategies for building authentic, strong, and lasting relationships.
A five-minute favor is a small act of generosity that has a low cost to you in terms of time and energy, but can have a high value to the recipient. It is not about taking on large, time-consuming commitments. It is about being thoughtful and leveraging your knowledge and connections in small, targeted moments.