There are two versions of every success story. Story A is a detached analysis of the expert judgements that led to victory. Then there's Story B: how the people involved came to work together in the first place, without which nothing would have happened.

Think of any significant event — how you met your partner, won your biggest client, or ended up working with your co-founder — and you’ll see that most of them spring from serendipitous encounters.

As such, the more people you know, and the more people know you, the better. The more interactions you have, and the more people you have them with, the more likely such events are to occur. But how do we create the most value for those in our network?

The key is to always act as a host in life, not a guest.

An exceptional host:
Genuinely wants to be helpful
Makes others feel welcome and valued
Caters to individual needs
Is generous with their time
Creates an environment where relationships can develop

It’s not hard to see how the host mentality pays off. It's human nature to reciprocate, and empower those who create value for us. It's also a rare example of advice that works equally well in our business and personal lives.

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