Drip by drip.

Trust builds drip by drip. Love builds drip by drip. Reputation builds drip by drip.

The industrial era popularized the notion of getting selected and the proposal, because it helped their interests. The idea that all it takes is to shine one day in an interview (or a date) to move your career (or life) forward.

But since much before that, relationships have always been built drip by drip, over time.