Make Someone Owe You

On a blog called The Job Bored, Brian provides a great tip to improve the effectiveness of your network. He points out that the size of your network isn't as important as how many of those people want to do something for you.

The best way to get people to want to do you favors is to do favors for them.

This is an interesting paradox: Due to the laws of Karma, the best thing greedy, self-centered people can do to get more of what they want is to give freely of their time and resources.

It's true--people will go out of their way to consult with, buy from, refer, and generally help those to whom they feel indebted.

This is a hard-and-fast rule, but there's not a direct correlation here. Each kind act will not yield a corresponding benefit for you. Some will go completely unappreciated or unnoticed. But when more of the people in your cell phone's contacts are eager to do all they can for you, you're in a good place.

Do something nice for everyone you can. Go above and beyond. Don't wait till someone helps you to pay them back. You be the one to get the ball rolling, and you're much more likely to catch it on the rebound.