An influential person in your network begins helping you. They:
- introduce you to powerful contacts
- promote your work publicly
- support your projects
At first, it feels like an opportunity. Someone experienced, well connected, seemingly generous. Over time, you notice something else.
They also:
- subtly shape your decisions
- discourage certain partnerships
- push you toward specific alliances
Nothing they do appears hostile. On the contrary, everything seems helpful. But their influence over your strategic choices is quietly increasing.
You begin wondering: is this simply mentorship? Or something else?
