Do unto others...

If your are going to build a network that works for you, you are going to have to forget about what you want and go to work for your network.  This requires some maturity and foresight, but will pay large dividends down the road.

My 2 year old son lives in a world where everything is his and everything revolves around him.  This is normal.  As adults, we must learn to think of the needs of others and learn how to make sacrifices.  In networking, this is especially true.  You have likely met the "do business with me and I'll do business with you" types.  Do you do business with them?  Probably not.  Most of us do not appreciate this stance and do not respond well to being told what we have to do.  The opposite stance of finding a way to pass business, before expecting anything works much better.  Common civility pushes most business professionals to desire to pass business to those who helped them. 

So our recommendation...

Don't follow the golden rule...he who has the gold makes the rules.  Do what is right, and help others.  As Zig Ziglar says, if you help enough people get what they want and need, you will get what you want and need.