“It is our numerous weak ties, rather than our fewer strong ones, that really matter. The idea that proximity to total strangers is more important than connections to lifelong friends may seem strange, until you think about how networks function. The beauty of weak ties is that they bring us new information. Chances are, you and your friends travel in mostly the same circles. You know the same people, frequent the same places, and hear about the same opportunities. Weak ties are more numerous and take less effort to maintain. They introduce a bit of chaos into the equation, which more often than not is the key to identifying new opportunities and ideas.”

— WHO’S YOUR CITY? by Richard Florida