SUPPOSE you're a trying-hard social climber, except you don't have the means to make it happen. You lack a respectable amount of wardrobe and apparel to be noticeable in certain professional groups. You've to be in the company of management people to justify your existence as part of their community. You need to network because sales and marketing are part of your job.

Also, you need to expand your connections in management communities and industrial associations because you want to learn their best practices. Or you're in management consulting and training that you'd like your acquaintances and friends to be prospective clients.