We all know that person. They need an introduction, a favor, a recommendation, a quick call, a little advice, a second quick call, and maybe “just one more thing.” But when you need something? Suddenly, they’ve entered the witness protection program.

Helping people is a good thing. In networking, generosity matters. But there’s a difference between being generous and becoming someone’s unpaid support department. Some people build relationships. Others build a drive-thru window where they pull up, take what they need, and speed away without so much as a thank you.

The tricky part is that not every favor needs to be repaid immediately, or even directly. That’s not how real relationships work. But over time, you can tell who values the relationship and who values access to you. So yes, help people. Be kind. Be useful. Open doors. But don’t keep holding the door for someone who never thinks to hold it open for you.