From September 16, 2009
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Practicing Social Arbitrage
Engaging in this constant and open exchange of favors and intelligence is what I call social arbitrage. Think of well-executed social arbitrage as a sort of career karma. How much you give to the people you come into contact with determines how much you'll receive in return. In other words, if you want to make friends and get things done, you have to put yourself out to do things for other people -- things that require time, energy, and consideration.
Here's a
few
rules to
become a
master:
-
Think
of
social
arbitrage
as a
game.
When
someone
mentions
a
problem,
try
to
think
of
solutions.
The
solutions
come
from
my
experience
and
knowledge,
and
my
tool
kit
of
friends
and
associates.
Think:
How
can
my
network
help?
It's
a
sort
of
ongoing
puzzle,
matching
up
the
right
people
and
the
right
opportunities.
-
Just
do
it.
Don't
wait
to
be
asked.
People
aren't
used
to
looking
for
others
for
help,
beyond
a
small
circle,
and
usually
either
won't
think
of
it
or
will
be
too
polite
to
ask.
-
Don't
limit
yourself
to
one
clique.
Make
a
point
of
knowing
as
many
people
from
as
many
different
professions
and
social
groups
as
possible.
The
ability
to
bridge
different
worlds,
and
even
different
people
within
the
same
profession,
is a
key
attribute
in
managers
who
are
paid
better
and
promoted
faster.
-
Become
a
knowledge
broker.
Knowledge
is
free
--
it
can
be
found
in
books,
in
articles,
on
the
Internet,
pretty
much
everywhere,
and
it's
precious
to
everyone.
Expertise
will
not
only
allow
you
to
grow
your
connections,
it
helps
you
solve
problems
in
situations
where
there's
a
gap
in
your
network.
- Carpe Diem. When you see a way that someone else in your network can help a friend, don't wait. Pick up the phone mid-conversation to make the introduction -- "I'm here with my friend so-and-so and they need x and may call you, if it's alright" - then give your friend the information so they can follow up as they choose. Not only have you made it completely comfortable for them to reach out, you've also pinged someone else in your network -- double score.
Successfully connecting with others is never about simply getting what you want. It's about getting what you want and making sure that people who are important to you get what they want first -- and having fun while doing it.
