In a connected world, opportunities are more about who you know than what you know. Whether it’s a job, making a sale, or finding your next great new hire, you’d be a fool to miss some great opportunities to build your network.

With the growth of platforms like LinkedIn, it’s easier than ever to connect with folks. Unfortunately, we’re lazy and pretty much suck at it. It’s become too easy to click a “connect” button and try to build your network absent a real connection. Every week I get a bunch of requests to connect. Unfortunately, they have zero context. No note. No explanation as to why someone wants to make the connection. That prompts a really fast “ignore” response from me.

But what about connecting outside of social media? It’s a lost art. Our noses are in our phones all the time, and we miss opportunities to make great connections all around us. With a little effort, though, you can forge some great connections and build a network of people you actually know personally.

There’s one place I’ve found that’s better than anywhere else to build my network: the airport.

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