I found Bill Fitzgerald’s searching for a job book helpful for thinking about this. He has an older one that’s just about networking, but I haven’t read that

Networking to drum up business is a subset of networking.
More general networking is making and cultivating connections with people for mutual interests and potential help, both giving and getting.

If you are drumming up business then IME you need to get out in front of potential clients. Things like conferences, seminars, continuing ed, even free presentations with Q&A sessions sometimes.

I need a job too op!

Ha, 7 mins ago I texted my best friend and said "I want to be a professional networker. Is that a job?"

Lmk if you want to hire me, OP!

Networking is just socializing with people in your sphere of work. What type of work do you do? What kind of events do we have?

I've never really had a job where I needed to network to drum up clients or make business connections (to grow a business). And I've been fortunate to have basically gotten the jobs I've wanted in the past, with no networking. I can talk to anyone and am not shy. But I've never really wanted to or need to "network." I don't like the "ulterior motive" aspect of networking.

So what are some tips? The where and tips for being productive? Goals would be to, as said above, get client leads in my field and grow my practice.

I get that many of you do this but I have not. So try to be kind if that is possible.