“You will never know when you will need help from them.”
How many times do you find yourself making friends with the above reason? All the time? Or do you sincerely just want to be friends because you like them? It got me thinking for a bit when I went through my EBE notes on Europe. Jean Monnet, the father of networking, brought hope to Europe through its networking skills. And a special someone said to me that you have to be nice to everyone because you wouldn’t know when you will need help from them.
Networking and making friends are two different thing. And it’s true. When was the last time you hangout with someone because you truly enjoy the company and not because you need something from them?
I don’t befriend a person for the reason that I may need something from them in future. I don’t play nice just because he/she may be useful to me. I only get to know people and befriend with them if I truly like them. This explains why I have very little friends. I don’t choose my friends but I won’t play nice if I don’t like someone. It’s easy to tell. I can’t hide my emotions. If I dislike you, it shows. If I don’t like you, I am quiet when you’re around. If I get to know you better and I like you, I’ll go on talking like there’s no tomorrow. So what’s this shit bout you treat people good because you wanna use them in future? I mean it’s unpredictable la but you can’t always meet people with that kinda mentality right? It’s so wrong. It’s different though if you were to meet people on a business trip or any kind of formal events because certainly you’re not there to make friends. You’re there because you wanna meet people that can be influential to your business or whatever you’re doing. I was told that in order to succeed, you have to have a certain level of networking and social skills because you will need all the help you can get. And to a point, I believed. Success does not come purely through diligence but also through people you meet in the process of whatever you’re doing. But then again, that’s not making friends. So that’s in a whole different context.
Yeah la you may say through those formal networking you will also form friendships that you never imagine having but if that happens (and it happens, i know) then good for you la. From a not so right mentality of meeting people you get good friends what. NIce right? But right now I’m not talkin bout networking so…
It’s just sad that people often use each other and they totally forget bout the true meaning behind friendship. Be it with lecturers, your classmates, your colleagues, or even your gym friends, there is a fine line between purely networking and making friends. And seriously, another line of “you will never know when you need help from them” will get the look or maybe a say from me.
You may not agree, but then again, these are just my thoughts. Meh.