The people you can help are your connections.

Don't always think about "who you know," first consider "who you can help."
Value is hard currency. Without value, no matter how many dinners you attend, it's useless; at best, you'll be recognized, but when they don't need you, you're just air.
So the first thing: increase your value to others. This is not just motivational talk; it's an exchange logic.
The second thing: find outstanding people to be friends with.
Being outstanding doesn't mean being rich or having status. The one who studies the hardest around you, the one who has never missed a workout, the one who wins competitions—they all count.
Outstanding people will eventually have their shining moments.
Whether you're present or not depends on whether you've already positioned yourself beside them.