Know The Judge & The Janitor, The Saint & The Sinner…

Each holds a power you might one day need.

Being well-connected in a city is a valuable thing…

Not just having friends on social media who happen to live nearby, but knowing people on the ground where you go.

When I was a nightclub promoter and DJ, I could skip almost any line.

I never paid, often got free drinks, and enjoyed perks because I put in the effort to get to know the gatekeepers and be valuable in return.

All relationships require effort, but despite your best intentions to stay connected (even taking relationships offline to social media), businesses close, and gatekeepers move on.

This means those perks and access can disappear when the physical places tied to them are no longer there.

Which begs the question:

Is it really that hard to be well-connected in a city?

I’m starting to think it’s not.

This year, I’m focusing on rebuilding my connections in the areas I frequent because that’s what truly matters: being well-connected means that when you show up, you get perks.

The shortcut seems to be frequenting place and tipping well or donating to establishments.

Joining classes or clubs based on things I enjoy or want to learn feels too hit-or-miss and takes too long.

It also raises another question

Do you even need to be tied to a physical location if being well-connected is the only anchor there? I don’t think so.

Building a network online is far easier and opens you to more people.

It also has the option to bridge to in-person if needed.

So have you moved to a city and become well-networked really fast?

Let me know in the comments.