One's network is their net worth. How you can inventory all forms of your capital?

1LT Anthony DeToto — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 02:32:06 -0400

Capital takes many forms, but with capitalists... it seldom gets beyond the financial construct... Consider conducting an inventory of your human, intellectual and social capital - if they are unfamiliar- might you recall the last scene of the movie The Patriot?

I didn't... I was thinking Mel was killed by the Green Dragoon leader Col. William Tavington... (bad guy you love to hate). Turns out Mad Max to William Wallace to William Morris in the Patriot all prevail; there is a magnetism in the characters. Ok, so what... In the closing scene of the Patriot, a battered William returns to his burned home to discover the men he led as a servant leader are there to build his house before they set out to construct their own.

They weren't there for the money... he had none to give. He did have idiosyncratic (unique, special) credits in the form of human capital, intellectual capital and social capital which are all facets of wealth.

In Summary

Human Capital is the education, experience and relationships which can eventually be paid forward by mentoring and purposefully connecting parties when there is a good potential for mutual benefit.

Intellectual Capital in this context is the purposeful transfer of knowledge among people with strong affinity

Social Capital is what Alexis de Tocqueville called the greatness of American goodwill, transparency, fellowship, and empathy beyond the nuclear family.

I am curious what net worth means to you.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 21 at 2014 2:44 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 02:44:30 -0400

Honestly, if it weren't for RP I would almost be alone. RP is awesome for making new contacts and I think I just landed a job in Okinawa thanks to them.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Aug 21 at 2014 11:01 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 11:01:58 -0400

This is a very interesting way to look at it. When looking at my Networks and wealth in THAT perspective, I think that I am doing ok...not great, but not poor either. I have a network here in RP..... for my specific career field (nursing), this one is good for generalized knowledge in many areas. My LinkedIn network is much more specific towards my career goals in Nursing (not 100%, but much more definitive in that way). I also have a very small core group of friends. I have few friends, but those that I have are REALLY GOOD. Many of them date back to various military deployments/assignments. I would trust my life and my family with them. I also have a number of contacts that I trust to a degree.