C.S. Lewis once warned against seeking to become part of what he called the 'inner ring.'
The inner ring describes any group we think would give us a feeling of importance or status if we were a part of it.
We tend to want admittance to some inner circle because we don't like looking on as outsiders.
We want to be on the inside.
The danger of seeking to be accepted within an inner ring is you're inclined to make compromises just to prove you fit in.
But then when you become part of the in group, you discover you're not in the right place after all.
This experience shows it's far better to focus on being who you are in the place God has you, and allow Him to give access to any influential groups if He thinks it best.
So it makes sense to spend our energy developing our gifts to serve others and leave the outcome to God.
As the proverb says...
'A man’s gift makes room for him...' (Pr.18:16).