the favors, trust, and connections that let you skip the line life doesn't officially sell tickets for.
means the value you get from relationships, networks, and reputation that lets you get things done money alone can't buy.
from coined loosely in early 1900s community studies, popularized by sociologist pierre bourdieu in the 1980s, then supercharged for pop culture by robert putnam's 2000 book bowling alone, which mourned americans losing it one bowling league at a time.
harvard alumni network — opens doors decades after graduation, no transcript required
silicon valley pmf intros — a warm intro from a16z beats a cold pitch deck
italian american social clubs — putnam's own case study of vanishing civic trust
nextdoor neighborhood favors — borrowing a ladder because someone remembers your name