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There are a lot of things to be learned when it comes to being involved with people. One of these is that people are inherently self-interested and love talking about themselves. Even if you are not all that interested, you can create positive feelings toward yourself if you are willing to ask questions that allow someone to talk about themselves.
The same is true with getting ahead. Part of the reason that nepotism works is that the person is a known quantity. People are wary of newcomers or unknown quantities, and would often rather deal with a known mediocre performer than someone that might be better– but might be worse.
You can’t make yourself smarter, but you can make yourself more prepared than everyone else. One of the ways I was able to break into the game industry was because I knew more about all of the people involved than anyone except a few of the deepest and most experienced insiders.How did I do that despite being just out of college, with zero contacts in the industry, and never having attended a single industry event? I studied every single issue of Computer Gaming World like a seminary student performing exegesis on a single Bible verse, putting every single name I could find into a database with their position, company, and associated titles. So, when I finally attended CGDC for the first time, I knew most of the guys there and could speak intelligently with them about their past and present projects.
The Secret Weapon – Vox Popoli
Choose to do your homework. Get to know the area that you want to get into, and the people that are doing well in it, and learn to network. It might seem like a waste of time, but it will pay dividends in the end. This is a Biblical principle that is seen from Proverbs to the Gospels. We are urged to get to know our neighbors and those who do business with us– to learn who they are and to be involved in their lives.
Don’t let the current culture stop you from doing what is best for you, your family, and your mission here on the Earth.
