Speaking of: "Always Be Networking"

This phrase "Always Be Networking" floats around a lot of career advice guides and articles, and it sort of pisses me off.

You should always be friendly. You should always be helpful. You should always be willing and eager to form new relationships. But you should not always be networking. You should not go into every interaction or every encounter with someone new thinking, "How can I leverage this relationship for personal gain?" That would be a bit twisted, wouldn't it?

All good relationships are symbiotic. Build the relationship, and the perks will come. But don't walk around like a sexually frustrated frat star seeking out relationships just for the benefits. Everyone is more than their LinkedIn profile. Make friends, not connections.