Influences... are they always seminal or would subliminal be more acceptable do you think?

Networking...

This is a 20th Century phenomena?

Well, that depends on what 'networking' means to you at this instant. There's a range of ways of applying this term incontext.

At this point in my life I'm concerned with:

Friendships,

Business Contacts, they're always handy to have

Socialising, ... it just makes sense