Superconnect: Harnessing the Power of Networks and the Strength of Weak Links

Entrepreneur Koch (The 80/20 Principle) and investor Lockwood break down the three types of connection—strong links: long-lasting relationships with friends and family; weak links: relationships with acquaintances; and hubs: the junction of several strong and weak links, such as businesses, social circles, schools, nations. The rock stars of social connections and networking are the eponymous "superconnectors"—individuals and businesses who are disproportionately connected (and significantly more successful as a result)—and their specific talents hold far-reaching implications for market structure, strategy, and industrial policy. Through lively case studies and stories, the authors explore how the Internet has changed links, the new rules and characteristics of a hyperlinked society, and how firms and individuals can benefit from the all-important weak links. Weak links, or casual contacts, are a crucial resource; requiring little work or effort, these relationships "deliver enormous dividends," and this smart and thought-provoking analysis explains how individuals and businesses can harness their power for almost any kind of professional advancement. (Aug.)