All Connected Within 7 Contacts

When I was in high school in Britain, I learned of a theory which suggests that all people in this world are somehow connected within 7 contacts. The theory claims that you can randomly pick two absolutely unrelated persons (Subject A & B) from anywhere on earth- within the circle of influence of Subject A, you can find someone (contact 2) who will know someone else (contact 3) within his/her circle of influence, who will know someone else (contact 4) within his/her circle of friends, who will know someone else (contact 5) within his/her circle of influence, who will know someone else (contact 6) within his/her circle of friends, who will eventually find Subject B within his/her circle of influence.

Been around for 36 years on earth, I can personally testify that this theory holds some water. The most recent example:

Subjects: Me (just another greedy businessman), Paul Mak (Chief editor at Protowork), David Berner (famous radio talk show host) & Rob Showell (award-winning script writer/director).

Scenario: Paul Mak at the loo in a Downtown building after overseeing the voiceover recording of a corporate video project. A handsome gentleman doing his own business at the loo started to chat with him. (Freeze: Paul is an artistic, creative, backroom editor, not very up to date with politics and society in general). According to Paul this gentleman is very business like with some humour behind him, eager to meet new friends and felt like a veteran in the world of creative businesses. After a lively chat, they exchanged contact info and set up a meeting later during the week to have a beer or coffee. Paul recounted the incidence to me while working on our renovation project later that evening and asked me to join them for the beer or coffee session.

Revelation:
- The gentleman was David Berner. He has never met Paul or me before in his life. David Berner revealed that he used to collaborate with Rob Showell since the 80's in creative writing.

- Paul has no idea who David Berner is. Paul is my brother. Paul worked on a few projects before with Rob Showell (Variety- the children's charity was an award winner)

- Rob Showell is our associate writer/director at Protowork, so of course he knows both me and Paul. He worked with David Berner in the past, but doesn't know Paul would get chatted up in a loo by David Berner.

- Me. I've known Paul since his birth. I really respect Rob Showell and his talent & skill in the creative business world. David Berner is one of my favourite radio talk show host, I listen to his show every weekend while I'm driving 'coz CKNW is my default station, but have never physically met the guy before.

We are all going for a beer this Friday.

Conclusion: It's a small world. Ever since all kinds of embaressments I've embraced during my teenage years, I've learnt that whatever goes around, comes around. Behind my sober mind (limited occurrence), I've always adamantly stick to a principle for all business dealings: be honest with myself; be honest with God; do the best I can with the time I have at hand; and never cheat on anyone. Either Win/Win or no deal. It's a small world- you are only 7 contacts away from owing up to your wrong-doing today! Be Aware, Be Very Aware, Someone Knows.