Networking advice feels transactional these days—any other entrepreneurs tired of 'just connect more'?

I feel like I’ve heard the same career advice looped back at me so many times it’s lost its meaning. ‘Build your network,’ they say. ‘Attend more events,’ they suggest. But here’s the thing: after three years of cold-emailing VCs, swapping business cards at conferences, and joining every LinkedIn group under the sun, I’m left with spreadsheets full of contacts who never reply and ‘follow-up’ emails that vanish into the void. 🤷‍♂️

Maybe I’m overcomplicating it, but the ‘networking as a numbers game’ strategy feels… hollow. I’ve met founders who built real rapport by focusing on one niche community and nurturing slow, deliberate relationships. Meanwhile, I’m burning through my calendar chasing ‘strategic connections’ that never materialize into anything. Is everyone else just better at this ‘soft skill,’ or are we being sold a myth that visibility equals opportunity?

I’m not arguing against networking—obviously, it matters. But what if the problem isn’t that we’re not networking enough? What if the system is designed to reward the already-connected? I’d love to hear how others balance proactive outreach with the reality of limited time and energy. Any frameworks or hard-learned lessons here?