The only 42 people you'll ever need
There are several major decisions that significantly impact your life trajectory, including:
what you do
who you live with
These decisions are highly influenced by your chosen peers found in your current network. Your peers don't just provide access to people and opportunities - they may shape how often you work out, how much fun you have, and even how well you eat. *Research shows that 30-50% of jobs are filled through social networks, and networking provides early access to opportunities and screening advantages even for publicly posted positions.
So how do you build the right network to influence these crucial choices well?
Most networking feels exhausting because we're trying to connect with everyone. Social media wants you to create the biggest networks possible. Networking events encourage you to collect hundreds of contacts, but business cards just pile up with such limited time to follow-up.
But here's what research actually shows: everything you'll need in your entire life won't come from more than 42 people. That's not a limitation - that's liberation.
Why 42 people?
Think about your phone. When you scroll through your texts or recent calls, who shows up repeatedly? Those are the people actually influencing your life, career, and opportunities.
Research by anthropologist Robin Dunbar found that our meaningful relationships work with a core group, a close group, an acquaintance group, and a personal social group of 150. Tom Rath found that people who have a "best friend at work" are 7 times as likely to be engaged in their job.
We chose 42 as a significant number inspired by Buckminster Fuller's geodesic principles, where triangles (three-way collaborations) create the strongest structures - your network of 42 naturally forms these resilient connection patterns.
Building on Dunbar's insights, Paul Boudrye adapted this for our P2P networking with three practical tiers below. This is just math made funny by small world theory, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.
The magic of 42 isn't just who supports you - it's who you actively support back. When three people collaborate (you plus two others from your 42), that's when real value gets created - not just one-on-one connections.
Your inner circle (6 people)
You connect with these people every week
They're the ones you'd call at 2 AM if you needed help
They refer you to jobs, introduce you to partners, and open doors
Critical question: Are these 6 people you'd choose to talk with weekly?
Your support network (36 people)
You connect with these people monthly
They're your second-tier supporters and collaborators
Combined with your inner 6 = your total network of 42
Your casual connections (everyone else)
People you bump into occasionally
Great for surprise opportunities ("I haven't seen you in forever - there's a perfect job for you!")
Important for serendipity, but you don't actively maintain or nourish these relationships
The 8 types of people you need in your 42
Not all connections are created equal. Create a balanced mix of people who contribute different value to your life - and vice versa. Drawing from Tom Rath's "Vital Friends" work, here are the 8 essential types recognized in our regenerative network:
Motivator 🎉 - Your energizer who lifts your spirits and makes you laugh. When you're having a tough day, spending time with them turns everything around and reminds you why you love what you do.
Guide ⭐️ - Your trusted advisor who gives great counsel and helps you think through decisions. When you're stuck or facing a crossroads, they help you see the path forward with clarity.
Believer 🔥 - Your biggest champion who always has your back and celebrates your wins. They'll defend you when you're not in the room and remind you of your strengths when you forget them yourself.
Collaborator ✅ - Someone who shares your interests and values. You can work together easily because you're naturally aligned on what matters most and have similar goals.
Challenger 🌱 - The person who expands your thinking and pushes you to grow. They ask tough questions that make you see things differently and aren't afraid to challenge you to reach for more.
Supporter 💛 - Your steady rock who's always there when life gets complicated. They provide emotional support and stability, especially during difficult times or major transitions.
Provider 🚀 - Someone who helps you access resources, opportunities, or expertise you need to move forward. They're generous with sharing what they have and know
How combinations work
The most valuable people in your network often combine multiple roles. The magic happens when someone naturally fills 2-3 of these roles for you.
Challenger 🌱 + Supporter 💛
Accountability Partner: Someone who cares enough to push you AND stick with you. They'll ask tough questions about your progress while providing consistent emotional support through the ups and downs.
Guide ⭐️ + Believer 🔥 + Challenger 🌱
Mentor: They give great advice, believe in your potential, and push you to grow - often all in the same conversation.
Collaborator ✅ + Provider 🚀 + Supporter 💛
Business Partner: You share similar values and goals, they bring resources and opportunities, and they're there for you when things get tough.
Motivator 🎉 + Supporter 💛 + Believer 🔥
Best Friend: They lift your spirits, provide steady support, and always have your back no matter what.
How DayBalancer helps you build your 42
DayBalancer helps you focus on quality over quantity - when you can only maintain 42 professional connections, every one matters.
Trusted peers: You decide who is in your trusted network within our larger regenerative network.
Stay updated: We help you stay updated on the needs of your trusted network, as they will with you.
Trust created: As new peers come to know more about you, your page reveals your contributions.
Less maintenance, more meaning It's not possible to stay in touch with hundreds of people, let alone 10 people in your life consistently. We automate the way to help nurture these important relationships within smaller groups.
Your next steps
Take inventory - Look at your phone. Who are you actually texting and calling regularly? These are likely already part of your 42.
Identify gaps - Which of the 8 essential types are missing from your current trusted network? A great guide? A better connector?
Quality check - Are there people in your current circle who drain your energy rather than add to it? It might be time to make some changes.
Start connecting - Use your DayBalancer profile to attract the types of people you actually want in your professional life.
This isn't about being exclusive - it's about being intentional. When you focus on quality relationships instead of quantity connections, everything changes.
Welcome to a better way to network. Welcome to your circle of 42.
Ready to build your trusted network? Complete your DayBalancer profile and let compatible opportunities and people find you.
