Relationships are wonderfully beneficial when they are free, or somehow independently funded (E.g. we both work for the same employer). As soon as a relationship has to be paid for, people revert to a reciprocal expectation of value: will I gain more than I pay?
In a work context, for many people that gain is future earnings. Will this bring me more business or enable me to earn more in future? Only for a small subset is the investment driven by curiosity or support.
I’m trying to internalise the idea that growing trust and sharing money benefits everyone, but it’s hard in an Alpha world. It will become easier with social evolution for future generations.