✣ Bad Blood is Bad Business

Welcome back to Connections, where we explore the art of building meaningful networks and turning them into your greatest asset.

If you’re a regular subscriber you may have noticed—no email last week. And for that, I apologize! I got a little carried away in responsibilities with my newest newsletter clients (woot! but also… a lot of work!)

Let’s get into a dirty topic this week, ‘cause we’re diving into enemies.
But before we get into it —

Two weeks ago, we asked you: Who would be your dream connection in 2025?
Here’s what you shared:

Looks like we’ve got a 4-way tie!

You guys are business-minded, finance-focused, and innovative am I right?

Now, onto our regular scheduled programming.

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🏂 KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSE

Have you ever opened a social media platform to discover —

Someone unfollowed you?

Last week, I noticed that a former colleague—let's call them Alex—had removed our connection on LinkedIn.

I wanted to refer Alex to a web3 networked connection, who was considering the company Alex worked for in their professional next step.

Alex and I had worked together for a year on several high-stakes projects.
Well, here’s what happened. The last mini-conversation I asked of them on LinkedIn was the question—why’d they extend their work at our former employer by 2 months? The context is we were both let go on the same day; as well as ½ the company.

I tried to lead with curiosity, but perhaps it came across differently. (And apparently, this wasn't unique to Alex—several other former colleagues had also extended their resumes online).

The disconnection realization stung.

But it taught me something powerful about professional relationships that I hadn't considered before.

Well, not everyone in your professional network needs to be your cheerleader.

And let’s face it, I guess we’re enemies now.

(This is harsh and untrue, but let’s go with it for the sake of copy)

The Hidden Value of "Enemies"

Here's something counterintuitive: The people who challenge us most often drive our greatest improvements. They:

• Force us to strengthen our arguments and convictions

• Help us develop resilience in professional settings

• Push us to question our assumptions and biases

• Make us more adaptable and strategic

Think about it: Would you rather have 500 connections who always agree with you, or 5 who push you to grow?

‘Enemy’ professional relationships carry a unique weight. They force us to confront uncomfortable truths about professional bonds.

The Complex Nature of Professional Relationships

When companies downsize, it's not just jobs that get restructured—it's entire relationship networks. The question I asked Alex was more than curiosity, it was about understanding a deeper layer of our connection to each other in the context of the industry we worked in.

Why? At that time, I was struggling with my place in ‘Web3’ and I wanted to speak to someone I respected, who also was an A-Player at our former workplace.

Every professional connection represents:

• Future collaboration possibilities

• Access to different market insights

• Potential referral pathways

• Career opportunities

But when we let emotions drive disconnection, we're not just losing a LinkedIn contact—we're closing doors we might need later.

Bad Blood for Business

Here's a hard truth: The professional world is smaller than we think. That person you're avoiding today might be connected to your dream opportunity.

Smart professionals know: Burning bridges doesn't just eliminate one connection—it can impact entire networks.

The key is to keep emotions in check and stay focused on professional value.

The Professional Growth Paradox

The people who challenge us most often drive our greatest improvements. They:

• Force us to strengthen our arguments

• Push us to question our assumptions

• Help us develop thicker skin

• Make us more adaptable

Looking back at my interaction with Alex, I missed an opportunity. Instead of asking about their extended stay, I could have just shut up and kept the connection ‘professional,’ albeit likely still a bit cold.

That way, once tensions of our mutual layoff subsided, I could have continued the warm network handshake to someone in my network.

Alright, so let’s review.

The Professional’s Perspective

Ask yourself:

• Who in your professional life do you consider an "enemy"?

• How can you reach out to them to check in (politely)?

• How can you transform that friction into fuel for growth?

Sometimes, the people who challenge us most are actually giving us a gift—the gift of growth, self-awareness, and resilience.

Not every professional relationship needs to be positive to be valuable. Sometimes, the most growth comes from the connections that make us most uncomfortable.

And who knows?

Today's "enemy" might become tomorrow's ally.

But even if they don't, they've already given you something valuable: a chance to grow.

In business, there are no permanent enemies—only temporary misalignments of interest. The best professionals know how to keep doors open, even when rooms get chilly.

Stay warm folks!

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🎶 OUR WEEKLY PLAYLIST

This was a vulnerable one for me. Hope you all enjoyed and got to reflect on your own professional relationships.

Reply here if you want to share your own story of (dis)connection.

I got your back.

Sincerely,

Lauren and the Connections team