My most frequently requested item during the 17 years I have been writing this column, was the two-part series with the title you see, above. I have updated the piece and combined it into this singular article. I hope it is instructive.

• Lesson One: Build networks early and maintain them throughout your career.

Although a lone-wolf effort can vault one to the top temporarily, the business world is driven by an ever-shifting mosaic of relationships, which, if mastered, better pave the way to sustained success. Even a solo practitioner, after all, does not operate in a vacuum, as a range of clients, contacts, lawyers and others are interconnected with his/her practice.

A good network is an invaluable resource that serves many important purposes. For some, it is what separates a "partner" from his lowercase "partner" brethren, as the network serves as the foundation for becoming a rainmaker. For others, a network provides a valued group of persons who can provide advice, support, and perspective at key times throughout one's career. For still others, the network will be the link to getting a job at various times, as statistics show that about 80% of persons find a new position through their personal connections.