Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg recently announced his plan to donate $100 million to Newark Public Schools, Newark, NJ’s public school system. According to an article in February’s Fast Company, Zuckerberg, who hails from New York, has no apparent ties to Newark, other than a chance meeting with Newark’s mayor, Cory Booker, at a conference. He was allegedly impressed with Booker’s reform plan. Thus, an illustration of the power of networking and the importance of mastering your elevator pitch—the relevance of what you and your company provide in under 30 seconds (time spent on an elevator).

If Booker had fumbled over his vernacular, unclear of his purpose, Zuckerberg’s $100 million would be a pipe dream for said mayor and Newark wouldn’t be garnering the mass exposure it is. Have you mastered your elevator pitch? When engaging with others, do you have their best interest in mind? Are you coming at it from a servitude mindset? Have you contemplated the value of networking?