Everyone has benefactors in their lives, but whether you receive their help depends on how you seize the opportunity. To connect with such people, you must first improve your own qualities. Although you may still have a gap between yourself and your benefactor, and may even rely on their recognition and cultivation, showing potential for growth is key. By continuously communicating and learning, you can bridge the distance. For mentors who enjoy sharing their experience, someone like this can also be a rewarding protégé, and they will go out of their way to help you. While there are many ways to make connections, the most critical factor is whether you are worthy of their assistance. If you want to catch the opportunities presented by a benefactor, you must first enhance your own strength. Many realize the importance of benefactors and try to connect with them, but few truly know how to manage these relationships well. With so many people surrounding a person of influence, making them remember you and willing to stand up for you in times of trouble is no easy feat.
In this regard, my friend's approach is worth learning from. Three years after graduating from university, while many classmates had lost touch with their teachers and peers, she persisted in sending short messages to her teachers every holiday and frequently shared her thoughts on work and life.
Recently, while chatting with her teacher, she learned that a vice president from her university was vacationing in her city. She used the teacher as a connection to reach out to the vice president and arranged a visit.
Think about it: back then, we were just unknown college students. How could we have discussed life face-to-face with a vice president? It was her benefactor—our teacher—who built this bridge for her, providing an opportunity many of us might never receive.
After talking further, I found that her method of maintaining these connections was quite simple: sending holiday messages or occasional emails. According to her theory, "people fear being forgotten; if you contact them regularly, they feel appreciated and are more willing to help when you need it."
However, I believe this is only the first step. The most crucial step lies in finding common topics and shared values.
