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All my life, I’ve always known the right people. My parents got
married on the backdrop of belonging to the right social class; it seemed the
sensible thing to do as a union of that nature would lead to mergers that would
be talked about for years to come. When I came about, even I was talked about
as well – the press dubbed me all kinds of names like ‘‘Prince to the Empire”
and “Heir Apparent”. And, for as long as I can remember, I’ve only always hung
out with the right crowd. Take the current Attorney General for example; we
were in the same crèche.

Till date, my mates back in school often wonder how I made it
through. I was never in class that much; I usually found the lectures a little
boring. My holidays were at least a month longer, as special offers in Paris
and London were not easy to come by and I did not want to waste an opportunity.
I often told a few of my friends that making good grades was not a function of
what you knew but who you knew. A lot of them never quite understood, but some
did. Small wonder “we” came out with good grades.

A trip back to my school for an alumni fundraiser revealed that
the best graduating student in my class was now a lecturer in the same school.
I met a few more who had promising prospects while we were in school, but who
had come in hope that they would find a friend from back in the day that would
be willing to help them at least get a job.

To all who wondered as to how I had become the MD of a blue chip
organisation in such a short time, I simply reminded them, “It’s not what but
who you know”. After the alumni meeting, I made a mental note not to attend
such meetings. The phone calls and e-mails I got afterwards reminding me of my
promise to “help” made me change my contact details. By the way, those worth
staying in touch with knew where to find me. Business life has its own
attendant problems as well. In the club, over drinks and cigars, my competitors
wonder how I’ve been raking in a lot of juicy contracts in the industry.

I hear a lot of rumours
making the rounds, including suggestions that I made night calls to a
synagogue. I take huge swigs of my drink and long drawn puffs on my cigar with
a huge grin on my face. I soak up the pleasure of having them revere me as
being more successful than they are – my body mass seems to increase. I sigh
heavily and remark in low tones, “It’s all about who you know!” Many years have
gone by and I am still on top of my game. I know just about everyone that is
worth knowing.

My sisters also have a firm understanding of this all-too
important fact of life. One of them is married to the country’s ambassador to
France. Recently, she apparently screwed up a chat with some senators after she
was nominated for an ambassadorial post. How does an ambassador-to-be not know
her country’s national anthem? Nonetheless, she has received the nod. Why? We
know the right people. My other sister is married to a former governor and very
influential man. She is on her way to the Senate.

Many have questioned her
suitability. But, who cares about such little details when you know the right
people. At any rate, those complaining are just doing so because they are not
the ones being considered.

I have heard a lot of so-called crusaders question this way of
life. They rant about what effects this will have on our society. They ponder
the future of our children and generations unborn. They are at a loss as to why
we do not appreciate people with abilities, who can actually carry out the job
at hand. My answer is simple. Why worry about generations still unborn?

The rate at which the world is going, they may never make it –
take a look at Japan. And, personally, I have no problems with people who are
actually intelligent or skilled; I hire them. As to why they do not get to the
top, that is entirely their fault. They paid too much attention to building
their intellectual capacities and other abilities, and left the most important
of all to suffer; they did not build on the people they know. So, you see, it
really is simple. It’s not what you know, but the people you know that matters.