From: alexhormozi
Building a strong network and fostering meaningful relationships are crucial for entrepreneurial and personal growth. The speaker emphasizes that success often comes from connections and the value exchanged within these relationships.
Strategic Proximity: Being Around “The Who”
Living in an environment where “shit’s happening” and people are actively pursuing their goals is highly recommended [05:14:00]. Investing 400 a month to move to such an area can be well worth it to escape stagnant environments, unsupportive friends, or discouraging parents [05:22:00].
The speaker’s early career moves were solely focused on being around successful people [05:53:00].
Finding Communities
To connect with like-minded individuals, engage with online communities, Discord groups, and Facebook groups [05:38:00]. Look for “pockets of people” who share similar ambitions [05:48:00].
The Influence of Your Environment
Being around people who are thriving will raise your standard of excellence [06:32:00], showing you what’s truly possible [06:37:00]. Use this as inspiration [06:41:00]. When surrounded by successful individuals, conversations shift to different time and money increments, such as discussions about six-figure investments or plans spanning decades [06:47:00].
The speaker notes that one can often gauge people’s potential wealth by how they discuss and allocate resources like time and money [07:03:00].
Building Relationships Through “Handshakes”
The speaker attributes much of their accelerated progress to “handshakes instead of hacks” [07:12:00]. Almost all significant deals in their life originated from connections within one or two degrees of separation [07:21:00].
Accepting Invitations
“Don’t turn down the first invite.” [07:29:00]
If you connect with someone and they suggest getting dinner, make it happen [07:31:00]. Making that initial meeting work significantly increases the likelihood of a lasting friendship [07:33:00]. Turning down the first invite can signal disinterest and lead to a breakdown in potential connection [07:37:00].
Providing Value
Before meeting someone, conduct about 30 minutes of research on them [07:47:00]. The goal is to bring something valuable to the table, whether it’s applying your skill or providing in-depth guidance [07:54:00].
The “Free Pass” Fallacy
Offering services for free often leads to poor execution and resentment [08:01:00]. Instead, if you want to genuinely do someone a favor, “blow them away” with the quality and speed of your work, making them feel awkward due to the sheer value provided [08:26:00].
This approach means investing in long-term relationships that will pay dividends later [08:59:00]. While there’s a risk of not getting anything back, this act of giving is what it looks like to “make the world a better place” at a micro level for an entrepreneur [09:02:00].
The Power of Not Needing Anything Back
The ultimate leverage in a relationship is not needing anything in return [09:11:00]. By consistently providing value when you don’t need anything, you “stack IOUs” [09:16:00]. When you are ready to make a move or need support, you’ll have numerous “blank checks” ready to cash in, propelling yourself much faster [09:19:00].
“The time to dig the well is not when you’re thirsty, but when you have enough water so that when you are thirsty, it’s there.” [09:30:00]
This proactive approach of building goodwill and relationships early allows you to go on the offensive when the time is right [09:35:00].