Social Capital

Like Guanxi (see earlier post). Connections in Networks.

Gemeinschaft (German) – Individuals value the community instead of promoting their own interests.

Wasta (Middle East) – a connection that will break or bend the rules for you, bypassing bureaucracy. In Kuwait, they call it “Taking Vitamin ‘W’."

In America, we call it corruption.

Books:

“How to Win Friends and Influence People” – Dale Carnegie
The Bible of Networking.

“Never Eat Alone” – Keith Ferrazzi
A more modern approach.