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Your boss controls your schedule, your reviews, and maybe your next raise. But they don’t control who knows your name outside that building.

When your whole career runs through one toxic manager, they hold all the leverage. Your reputation depends on their version of you, and your options end where their approval ends. A strong network changes that. It gives you allies, outside perspective, and a way out that doesn’t depend on a cold application or your boss’s good mood.

In this episode:

Why relying on your boss for your career is a risky bet

How to build real relationships without feeling fake or transactional

How to reconnect with former coworkers and mentors, even after years of silence

Why you should build your network before you need it

How your network strengthens your exit strategy

Marcus Aurelius opens Meditations by naming the people who shaped him and what he learned from each one. Even an emperor didn’t pretend he got there alone. You can’t control whether your boss values you, but you can control whether anyone else knows what you’re worth.

If you’re stuck under a bad boss, your exit starts with a conversation. Send one message this week.

Want help building your way out? Email me about coaching: badbossguide@gmail.com

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