Oguz Kagan Tetik recently shared something that caught my attention: the simple confidence of, in effect, "If there is Trends & Friends, of course we are there." He added that he and his wife, Fatma Koselioeren Tetik, are ready for Trends&Friends 5x5 on February 9, and he pointed to something bigger than a date on the calendar: the value of joining a community led by Dr. Sertac Doganay to meet people you would normally only listen to on a panel or in a training.

That combination of enthusiasm and intention is worth expanding on. Because behind Oguz's short update is a playbook many professionals overlook: growth often comes less from collecting contacts and more from placing yourself in the right rooms, with the right structure, at the right frequency.

The real message in Oguz Kagan Tetik's post

Oguz is not just saying "we are attending an event." He is signaling three things:

Presence matters - showing up consistently is part of your personal brand.
Context matters - curated gatherings can compress years of learning into a few conversations.
People matter - meeting "panel-quality" experts in a relaxed setting changes what becomes possible.

If you read his post as a micro-strategy, it is about choosing environments where the default interaction quality is high.

A useful filter: aim for communities where the average conversation would be worth paying to hear.

Why curated communities beat random networking

Most networking advice fails because it treats all rooms as equal. They are not.

Random networking often creates predictable outcomes:

You meet many people quickly.
You exchange titles, industries, and vague promises.
Follow-up is weak because there is no shared frame.

Curated communities are different because they provide:

A shared topic (so conversations start deeper)
Shared standards (so you are more likely to meet serious builders)
Repetition (so trust compounds over multiple touchpoints)

When Oguz highlights joining the Trends&Friends community under Dr. Sertac Doganay's leadership, he is implicitly pointing to curation and leadership. Strong leadership sets the tone: who gets invited, what gets discussed, and how members treat one another.

The compounding effect of repeated rooms

Attending one event can be inspiring. Being part of an ongoing community is compounding:

Your reputation forms faster because people see you more than once.
Your ideas sharpen because you test them in conversation.
Opportunities find you because others can categorize you accurately.

That is why "we are ready" is more powerful than "I might stop by." Readiness signals commitment, and commitment is what communities reward.

Turning an event into a growth engine

Oguz's post also reminds me that the best ROI from events is rarely accidental. If you want a Trends&Friends-style gathering to translate into real outcomes, you need a plan that fits a community context.

Before the event: choose a learning goal and a relationship goal

Go in with two explicit targets:

A learning goal: a question you want answered (for example, "How are people actually using AI in operations without breaking trust?")
A relationship goal: 3-5 people you want to have real conversations with

This is not about forcing outcomes. It is about showing up with intention so you can recognize value when you see it.

During the event: ask better questions than everyone else

In high-quality rooms, the easiest way to stand out is not talking more. It is asking questions that raise the level of the discussion. A few examples:

"What did you change your mind about in the last 12 months?"
"What is working now that did not work two years ago?"
"Where do you think most people oversimplify this topic?"

If Oguz's point is that you can meet people you might otherwise only listen to from the audience, then your job is to earn a conversation that goes beyond surface-level compliments.

The goal is to leave someone thinking: this person is thoughtful, prepared, and worth staying connected with.

After the event: follow up with proof you listened

Most follow-ups fail because they are generic. A strong follow-up is specific:

Reference a concrete point they made
Share a resource relevant to their situation
Suggest a next step that is easy to accept (a 15-minute call, an intro, a short voice note)

If you do this consistently, one community can become a long-term pipeline for mentors, collaborators, clients, and friends.

What this means for LinkedIn content strategy

There is another layer here: Oguz's post is also a good example of simple, effective LinkedIn content.

It works because:

It is timely (anchored to a date)
It is personal (mentioning his wife, showing real life context)
It is community-oriented (inviting others into something bigger than himself)
It includes a clear action (a link to join)

If you want to write better LinkedIn content, notice the pattern: you do not need a long essay to create momentum. A short post can do a lot when it signals belonging, direction, and energy.

A practical template you can borrow

Try a structure like this:

A simple commitment: "If X is happening, I will be there."
A why that names the value: "Because it is one of the best ways to meet and learn from high-caliber people."
A community credit: name the organizer or leader
A clear invitation or next step

This is content strategy that feels human, not engineered.

How to pick the right community for you

Not every community is worth your time, even if it looks impressive online. Use a few filters:

1) Do conversations get practical fast?

If everything stays at the level of buzzwords, the room is not curated enough.

2) Is there visible stewardship?

A leader like Dr. Sertac Doganay is not just a name. Stewardship means someone is actively shaping norms, quality, and continuity.

3) Do members help each other win?

Look for signs of reciprocity: introductions, honest feedback, shared resources, and real celebration of progress.

4) Can you contribute, not just consume?

The best communities are not just stages. They are workshops. You should be able to offer expertise, perspective, or energy, even if you are early in your journey.

Bringing it back to Oguz Kagan Tetik's point

Oguz Kagan Tetik's post is short, but it carries a clear thesis: when a high-trust, well-led community is active, it is worth showing up, and it is worth bringing your full self with you. The promise is not only learning from "panel-quality" people, but also having the kind of conversations that rarely happen in crowded, unstructured spaces.

If you have been stuck in a cycle of collecting contacts without building momentum, consider this a nudge. Pick one curated community, commit to it for a season, and approach each gathering like an opportunity to learn deeply and contribute generously.

This blog post expands on a viral LinkedIn post by Oguz Kagan Tetik. View the original LinkedIn post →