"I'd like to add you to my professional network." is a punchline now, but it does speak to the important of having a professional network. It doesn't mean your connection count, and it's not about how many meetups and networking events you've been to. This human skill speaks to your ability to have interesting and open conversations about the nature of your work, and occasionally the work itself, with other practitioners.

Participating in a community of practice can happen online, in person at a conference, a meetup, a slack channel, a video chat, or an email. And it's something you can get good at: consider how you want to interact, how you can make productive use of your time, find the people who you have interesting conversations with.

Paying attention to a few interesting relationships means you can build a support network, get outside perspectives, offer help and guidance, and ask for the same when you need it. It's often these relationships that start from a mutual spark of interest that lead to side projects, partnerships, friendships, or jobs as you both carry on in the world. And it doesn't take a lot of time, but it does take attention, effort, genuine interest.