Interesting thoughts. I do slightly disagree. Having seen politics up close, it wasn't so much about networking as a kissing and currying favor with the powers that be. Everyone else was excluded or not given the time of day.

I worked with everybody, even those I didn't particularly like. I excluded no one, especially my friends whose positions I passed on the way up. Never forgot them and always talked to them. As a director I still played golf with factory workers. Had some of the best times with them. It was the "c" level folks who I had the most trouble with and those aspiring to be "c" level. Some of the biggest phonies ever.

To this day, would never change how I dealt and who I dealt with. These folks taught me more about working with others and how the company really ran. I am forever grateful to them.