If you had been from the right family, it never would have occurred to anyone to look around after doing what they were supposed to be there for. Or rather, they would have known better than to satisfy their curiosity.

Having the right connections isn't just about improving the upside, though it certainly does that. It's also about eliminating the downside. This not only insulates you from bad decisions and bad fortune, but also gives you a safety net to try riskier things -- which is where the biggest upside opportunities come from.