One of the lessons I’ve learned on my quest to have lunch with 500 strangers is the power of networks.

This lesson was reinforced during my lunch with Dominic Rolfe, the 165th person I’ve met.

A few years ago, one of Dom’s friends invited him along to a monthly wine club. At the wine club, Dom met a man named Robert Campbell. Rob is someone I’ve known since childhood, long before he started drinking wine (unless there’s something Rob’s never told me). One day, Rob told Dom about a friend of his who likes to have lunch with strangers … which is how I ended up meeting Dom.

Dom is an experienced writer and journalist. These days, he works for EY, but years ago he was the deputy editor of the(sydney)magazine, a prestigious title that was published as an insert in the Sydney Morning Herald. Unfortunately, the title folded in 2013; Dom was offered a reporting role with the SMH, but decided to become a freelancer instead. Dom then used his network to land his first client.

Dom is great company: he’s fun, easygoing and has a great sense of humour. Now we’ve become friends, I wouldn’t be surprised if, one day, I introduce Dom to someone in my network, or vice versa.