Professional opportunities may come from who you know, but their longevity is always reinforced by what you know and how you are able to employ that knowledge. Your disposition has a lot to do with the longevity of your career. If you are a brilliant artist and an ass hole, you may find work from time to time, but it will rarely be repeat business. If you are an accomplished musician and a nice guy, you will never starve for work.
You must at once employ Lesser Magic to bring those around you at ease while desiring your approval and talent. You must be able to deliver on your promise of mastery.
Not enough can be said about a kind word to a peer, or spending the extra hours working on a project to ‘get it right’. Not all rewards are seen immediately. Think of them as investments in the longevity of your profession.