How power players network in 2026.
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JAN 28, 2026

INSIDE: Vintage Fashion, Anti-networking, and Networking Red Flags.

TODAY I WILL:  

Let ease lead the way.

A little glow-up talk, a few plot twists, and some good news for our shopping carts.

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA:


With a rich social life, our New Year’s resolutions holding strong, and errands that never seem to end, we’re relying pretty heavily on the new Adobe Acrobat AI features to streamline our 9-5 tasks. A polished presentation used to take hours. With Acrobat, we can drop in brainstorm notes, relevant PDFs, and emails and get a formatted and branded presentation and still make an after-hours Pilates class. Now we can focus on what really matters… like finally finishing that laundry.*

The Watch Revival Is Right on Time


As predicted, vintage watches are trending hard. The Pinterest Fall Trend report cited major increases in searches for vintage watch aesthetics, and there have been even more TikTok videos claiming that wearing a vintage watch is the ultimate jewelry hack for an elevated look. 


According to a new report from Bezel, a top marketplace in the world for authenticated luxury watches, which looked at the current state of the watch market, Culture influenced collecting—but subtly: Taylor Swift and Jacob Elordi drove demand with quiet (but powerful) influence. Watches in key moments (like Swift’s Cartier or the Rolex “Wimbledon”) also spiked in visibility. 


Buyers are also getting increasingly intentional in buying. Demand stayed steady, but buyers and sellers both became more selective. Popular models stabilized as speculative frenzy faded. Importantly, buyers have also had to become more aware of fraud risks, knowing that a higher price point doesn’t guarantee authenticity. 


Get the Look: As vintage watches (and vintage watch aesthetic) continue to rise in popularity, think watches that are wearable, versatile, and well-proportioned. Whether you thrift one, borrow from your dad’s drawer, or snag a refurbished Cartier Tank, a vintage timepiece adds a layer of intentionality to your look that we love.

The Anti-Networking Era


No name tags. No bad wine. No pretending you’re “open to anything.”


For a lot of people, traditional networking is officially giving 2016. Panels, mixers, and forced small talk are getting swapped for something way more effective: DMs, group chats, and warm intros from people who actually know your work.


Here’s the shift: Instead of collecting business cards, people are building real relationships online and behind the scenes. A thoughtful DM beats a rushed elevator pitch. A trusted intro from a mutual beats shouting over music at a happy hour. And group chats? They’ve become mini power hubs where jobs, intel, and opportunities get shared in real time.


Why it works:

  • Higher signal, lower noise. You’re connecting with people who already get what you do.

  • No performance required. You don’t have to “work the room” to be memorable.

  • More aligned opportunities. Warm intros come with context, credibility, and trust baked in.



The power move here isn’t disappearing; it’s being intentional. Comment thoughtfully. Follow up privately. Ask for intros only when it makes sense, and always make it easy for someone to say yes. The goal isn’t visibility for visibility’s sake, it’s resonance.

What is your biggest networking red flag?