You are six or fewer connections away from anyone on this planet...
The theory of the six degrees of separation states that we are only six or fewer social connections from anyone in the world.
Happy New Week,
I’m sure like myself, you’ve noticed how small the world is and how no one is really out of reach. The six degrees of separation states that we are only six social connections from anyone in the world. The theory of six degrees of separation originates from a short story by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929, where a group of people play a game trying to connect a random person in the world to themselves by a chain of five others.
The theory of six degrees of separation shows that a person on the planet can be connected to any other person through a chain of acquaintances. We are all six or fewer connections away from anyone on the planet. For example, if you want to connect to Bill Gates, you can through an introduction from six or fewer mutual connections. It sounds crazy but thinking about it, I’m only one mutual connection away (humble brag).
Social media has made the world much smaller. Platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook have made it much easier to connect with people from all over the world. It is easier to reach out to people through instant messaging or email. Although social media makes the world small, it is still important to connect with people face to face as it makes it easier to build lasting relationships.
It is extremely important that you build a strong network because as the saying goes, your network is your net worth. Networking is about using your connections to your advantage. No matter what you do, whether you’re in business or have a job, your network can help you get to the next level. Through networking, I have been introduced to decision-makers in big organizations and I’ve pitched ideas to global brands. It is important to build and cultivate relationships with people because you never know what could come from it.
Protecting your name and personal brand is also extremely important. This is what draws people to help you and want to connect you with others. If you have a bad reputation even if people are singing your praises, people will not want to work with you because of what they’ve heard. A good reputation will provide access to great opportunities while a bad reputation can prevent that. If you grow your network you can have access to far more people than you ever imagined.
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.” Warren Buffet
Life is really about who you know more than what you know, in my opinion. It is important to be knowledgeable and well skilled in something, but who you know can help you utilise your skills and knowledge in much higher places. As an introvert, starting conversations with strangers is not as easy for me but the more I do it the easier it gets. The beauty is you never know who you’re speaking to or who the person you are talking to knows. Therefore, even though we’re advised to not talk about our dreams and ambitions aloud because of *evil eye*. I believe letting people know what your ambitions and dreams are is important because you never know how they can play a role in your journey.
You can also play a role in someone’s life, as the diagram shows we are all connected to people in different ways. Think about how you can help someone get to their desired position or introduce them to someone who can, God will always repay you for your kindness.
This article is a reminder that nothing and nobody is out of reach, if you really want it you’re just six or fewer mutual connections away. If there’s someone or a company you want to work with, find a way you can get to them through a friend of a friend of a friend…
Something interesting to watch
Something interesting to listen to - I just dropped a new podcast episode, have a listen!