When a seasoned businessman is asked what really propelled him to his success, he will hardly mention the fact that he was able to create an idea or a perfectly-executed marketing strategy. They will more frequently than not tell you about a conversation – a dinner, a conference hall, an introduction at a chance meeting – that opened the door. It is the mute, miraculous force of networking and business collaboration. When you get to see how much the two have become interwoven, you cease to think of connection as something to the side of your strategy and begin to think of it as your strategy.