“Everything is who you know” is a true statement. This includes the company president and the janitor. You never know who will be important to you in the future or what that person may achieve. The company president may be important to you professionally, or maybe the janitor’s child had the same issue your child is having and has suggestions or connections that may help.

These are reasons to know many, people, as well as different types of people. Having relationships with a diverse set of people also can help you overcome implicit bias. Many times, your relationships will take you farther and provide more opportunities than your brain. Don’t get me wrong, your brain can help you in life too, but sometimes you don’t get the chance to use your brain if a connection doesn’t provide the opportunity.

Make it a goal to expand your network and relationships. Don’t just make it numbers, but look for people from different backgrounds, types of work, and different age group. The more you nurture these types of relationships, the farther you will fly.