[rexreed]

A high value network is a group of people that have inherent trust or a common background or understanding that allows them to provide access to each other's highest value connections and resources. A low value network are those people that don't really know each other and won't trust providing access to high value resources or people, even if they share common interests. A network of people with common interests is not the same as a network of people with common background or other deep connections. This is what prevents startups (or LinkedIN or Meetup or what have you) providing the same depth of network as a "closed" network provides. By definition a high value network will be somewhat to very exclusionary. Low value networks are inclusive.

And no, networks alone can't accomplish much, and having a great network is no guarantee of success. But clearly having a great, high value network provides a significant advantage over not having any network or only access to low value networks.