Building social capital when you’re young is an incredibly underrated endeavor. Few things will pay off the same kinds of dividends as having plenty of people willing to do small favors for you.
Here are some simple ways to do it:
- Ask questions, and respect the answers. If you ask someone how to do something, and then they answer you, try what they suggest. If they see you ignoring the advice you asked for, it will leave a sour taste in their mouth that will make them less likely to help you again.
- Offer small favors, especially if they’re things you want to get known for doing. Other people asking you to work for free is often a bad sign, but offering to do the kind of work you love as a small favor lets you retain control while both promoting your skill set and endearing you to others. Win/win/win.
- Work when it’s hopeless. If you quit working on a problem when you think it’s unsolvable, you will be quitting too early 95% of the time. More experienced people know the problem can still be solved, so they see you throwing in the towel early. Counteract this by developing a bias towards sticking it out just a few iterations longer. Very few people get joy out of doing something for you, but many people get joy out of doing something with you.
Master those habits in your early work, and you’ll build up a large “favor fund.” That will pay off dividends in your future!
The Opportunity Machine 