The business of networking

If anyone cares about how I feel about business networking, which I posted about a bit earlier this week, check out my interview with Josh over at Business Networking Advice. Here's my main point:

I guess I'd define it kind of sideways to how we usually think of networking: as trying to find ways to benefit others we meet, rather than than meeting others with the thought that they can benefit us in some way.

It's interesting to think about how we define business networking, isn't it? I really hadn't given it a lot of thought until Josh asked, but it's so much a part of how this industry in particular gets things done. How would you define it?