Social Roots traces the history of a fundamental economic shift that is underway. The shift is rooted in virtualization, a key innovation factor, but when combined with influence networks, the significance becomes transformative. The combined power of these dimensions is creating a new economic paradigm based on return on collaboration metrics rooted in social capital theory. Inside is the story of the near magical transformation, written specifically so we do not forget the significance of this decade of leadership in the influence economy. Many of the stories in the first part of Social Roots are about organizations that took the opportunity to experiment and experience the power of social networking approaches to conducting business; and social innovators striving to make the world a better place. Their contributions to creating the influence economy are numerous, and their story of how they achieved success creates a tapestry of insight.