We have all bee thought that scarcity breeds value and that is part of the economic laws. We have been told to spend some time alone and not over-network.
Sometimes, we may be thinking that the closer we get to people, the more they would help us. The truth is that the reality is very WRONG!
Mark Granovetter a Sociologist had a research in 1974 about getting a job, he spent time to survey 282 workers and business people making a relation to how they got their current jobs and current business contract. He found that about 56% got jobs through their personal connection. Some of those connections, most of them were just weak ties. Only as few as 16.7% saw the contact often, 55.6% occasionally saw them, and 28% rarely saw them. This is supposed to be very weird. But you actually can get too close to people or someone to be thought of when a deal comes to table.
With this, it summarizes a personal central ideology. Be Friendly But Keep A Few Friends . It is not every party you are being invited to that you will have to attend.
Networking is powerful and social intelligence is more. Just ensure not to over-network or always make yourself too available. As a business man, it is just enough being a connector. Connectors are very important not just for the number of people they know but most importantly also, people that know them for their value. Aspire to be this, and share value continually and leave it at that.
Also, to be a good networking individual and connector, ensure that you know a lot of people from different field and not only one field because it makes them primarily weak ties; people that you know peripherally. Most times, strong ties are always known to have over familiarity which in turn breeds contempt. They are always disposed to abhor, envy and conflict.
The major problem that exists with strong ties is that they are most times usually around your space and your circle.
You will always call them your friends, after all, they occupy the same world which you do. They sometimes might work with you, or maybe live near you, and possibly go to the same churches, or even parties. How much, then can you say they know which you don’t know.
Acquaintances and weak ties are always more likely to know something you don’t have an idea of. Majorly, they represent social power and note that, the more acquaintances you have, you are likely to have more power. Remember, add value and leave and Be Friendly But Keep A Few Friends.