Hitting a networking nerve

Rajesh Setty offered some thoughts in response to Hugh MacLeod's call for 500-word 'Change the world' mini-manifestos.

On in particular jumped out at me: "It is just not who you know; it is who knows you."

Over the past 25 years, I have met thousands of people, some of them exceedingly prominent, either then or now. I could claim, "I know Steve Jobs", for example. But it's utterly meaningless because I'm certain he doesn't remember me. (I'm the guy who gave you a hard time on the Apple III at a London briefing, so we had lunch instead. Just in case you're reading this, Steve.)

I used to be editor of a computer magazine and, for years, was a columnist on a succession of titles. It gave me access to industry big cheeses, but I didn't for a moment imagine that this resulted in anything other than the occasional mutually beneficial temporary relationship.

In future, if anyone asks, "Do you know xyz", I'll say, "we've met but they probably don't remember me."

Setty's right. The only relationships that count are the ones where the other person knows you.

Sorry if you think this is stating the obvious. When we rub shoulders with the well-known, it's easy to forget that the 'relationship' is often a one-way street.

Comments

[Charles H. Green]

As you say, it may be obvious, but it does bear repeating. A one-way relationship is an oxymoron. It takes two to tango (or is it tangle? Well, they both do). The terms that apply to lopsided "relationships" are narcissist, or name-dropper, or sycophant (not to mention suckup or brown noser).
Basically the quality of relationships matters a lot; often more than the quantity.