Every book on the subject of networking tells you about meeting people who might be able to help you advance your career. Some are quite Machiavellian, Never Eat Alone is very grounded and genuine- plus an entertaining read.

Of course, the techniques and insights in this book have little to do with the suggestions found in The Prince. Networking boils down to an awareness and attention to the fact that maintaining those "weak connections" (those other than with close friends and family) often lead to the most promising deals down the road- be it a new job opportunity or finding the right vendor or service person.

As Samuel Golden is so famously quipped- "The key to success is sincerity...If you can fake that, you've got it made." Cute, but that's not what weak connections means. You need to foster those links where people know you as a friend-of-a-friend and your reputation and/or a few brief exchanges are how they know you.

There is no real magic here- but there are thnigs you can do to improve your perception by folks you know professionally. The first of these is to be genuine and look to find friends, not merely contacts that you can "use". Benefits from building a network of mutually respectful professional contacts is a key to accomplishing most everything you aspire to do in your life.