How I Became the Glue

“A quiet reflection on connection — and what it taught me in business”

I didn’t set out to be a connector. I didn’t call it anything at the time. I just found myself linking people — sharing a name, making an introduction, offering a piece of information that might help.

It started with something very basic: availability. I made time, even when I was stretched. I followed up when others didn’t. I stayed in touch without a reason. I didn’t have a strategy. I wasn’t looking for visibility or leverage. I just showed up where I could and tried to be of use.

Most of the time, that was all it was — a short conversation, a message, a small effort. No agenda. No expectation. And for a while, nothing obvious.

But over time, things began to shift — not dramatically, but gradually. People would reach out unexpectedly. A quiet referral would land in my inbox. Someone would say, “Your name came up in a conversation.” I hadn’t asked. I hadn’t put myself forward. But somehow, I had stayed in the back of people’s minds — not because I was loud, but because most probably I had been consistent.

Of course, not every connection went well. Some were misaligned. A few took more than they gave. Some would complain they could not leverage. Some would grab and go. But I never saw those as failures. I tried to make each one a learning experience — to leave something respectful and sincere behind, even if the relationship didn’t continue. That made all the difference.

What it taught me — quietly, over time

• Relationships grow in the background. Some of the most meaningful unexpected opportunities came from conversations I had forgotten about. The value wasn’t in what happened immediately — it was in what was remembered months or even years later.

• Presence is more powerful than performance. You don’t need the perfect pitch or polished message. What people remember is that you were there — available, attentive, real.

• Generosity isn’t a tactic. It only works if it’s real. People can sense when something is transactional. The moments that mattered most were the ones where I expected nothing in return.

• Not every connection leads somewhere — and that’s okay. The point is not to collect people. It’s to meet them where they are, and let the right ones find their way back.

• Trust is slow. But once it’s earned, it opens doors no résumé can.

I never aimed to be in the middle. I just stayed close to the work — and to people. That’s what made me the “glue.” Not a title. Not a method. Just showing up, again and again.

Roel Vos Skyne - the partner to grow your brand