The hang is the job.

I am not a fan of the word or concept of "networking." The idea of attending events solely to advance one's career feels icky.

But being part of a scene means showing up for the hang. People need to know you exist. People need to remember that you're around. It's in those pockets of meaningless banter and casual catch-ups that people suddenly feel inspired to grab a coffee, collaborate, or plan the next hang.

The more I get out into the world, whether in tech or in art, the more I see that climbing the ladder has very little to do with merit. Sure, certain thresholds of ability and competence have to be met. But the myth that you have to be a genius to be a CEO, a top-level artist, or whatever symbolizes the pinnacle of your field is a lie.

Most folks at the top are fairly ordinary. They may have worked hard. They may have been beneficiaries of cronyism or nepotism. Or both. Either way, it does not take genius or incredible talent to get there. Hard work is part of the process, but the real catalyst for success is often just showing up enough times to be in the right place at the right time.

The hang buys you lottery tickets to new opportunities. It doesn't always lead to them. But go to enough hangs, party hard enough with folks, build enough bonds, and you'll likely end up with an opportunity that could not have been found through hard work and grit alone.

There are times when I really prefer to stay home. Sometimes I just want to practice my instrument or finish up a project. But lately, I feel a need to remind myself that there's higher leverage in going out to hang. It's counterintuitive, but one unit of effort does not always equal one unit of progress. Sometimes, one unit of hang leads to exponential progress. It's not linear.

When you find yourself trying to get unstuck, consider the hang. You may just need to show up for the right hang to unlock your next path.