Your network is your net worth.
Insanely cringe yet true.
Here are 10 ways to build a strong network (that actually ROIs):
Insanely cringe yet true.
Here are 10 ways to build a strong network (that actually ROIs):
Most "networking" is...
Ineffective. To say the least.
My DM requests are overflowing with real people using real opening lines like this:
Ineffective. To say the least.
My DM requests are overflowing with real people using real opening lines like this:
It really doesn't have to be this painful.
Here are 10 ways to cut through the noise:
Here are 10 ways to cut through the noise:
1. Shut Up & Ask Questions
Ever read Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends & Influence People"?
You should. But here's your tl;dr:
Listen. And ask (sincerely).
Ever read Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends & Influence People"?
You should. But here's your tl;dr:
Listen. And ask (sincerely).
If you think networking is telling people about your skills & interests...
Guess what?
Everyone else thinks the same.
Allow them to talk about themselves. You’ll end up much farther.
Guess what?
Everyone else thinks the same.
Allow them to talk about themselves. You’ll end up much farther.
2. Don’t Be a Taker
My friend Alex Hormozi once told me he doesn’t even respond to requests for meetings, phone calls, etc.
When pressed why, he tells them:
“I think you take more than you give.”
Successful networkers give.
My friend Alex Hormozi once told me he doesn’t even respond to requests for meetings, phone calls, etc.
When pressed why, he tells them:
“I think you take more than you give.”
Successful networkers give.
3. Greatest Networking Sin = Being Boring
The Society for Social Psychology did a study on boringness.
People perceived as "boring":
• Were avoided
• Lacked social warmth/competence
• "Enduring their company required compensation"
(ouch!)
The Society for Social Psychology did a study on boringness.
People perceived as "boring":
• Were avoided
• Lacked social warmth/competence
• "Enduring their company required compensation"
(ouch!)
But I get it.
“Boring” encapsulates all the qualities of someone I don’t want to talk to.
You’re not creative, not a builder, not a deep thinker.
If you bore me, I’m out.
“Boring” encapsulates all the qualities of someone I don’t want to talk to.
You’re not creative, not a builder, not a deep thinker.
If you bore me, I’m out.
4. Curiosity Is the New Flattery
Most people don’t know it, but curiosity is their favorite gift to get.
Make like my former-CIA friend and do your homework on someone before meeting them.
Most people don’t know it, but curiosity is their favorite gift to get.
Make like my former-CIA friend and do your homework on someone before meeting them.
5. Leverage Small Talk
“What do you do for a living?”
“How do you know so-and-so?”
Someone call search & rescue.
This conversation needs saving.
“What do you do for a living?”
“How do you know so-and-so?”
Someone call search & rescue.
This conversation needs saving.
My highest ROI small talk questions:
• “What have you read recently that changed your perspective?”
• “What’s the most interesting project you’re working on?”
• “What do you think about X idea?”
• “What have you read recently that changed your perspective?”
• “What’s the most interesting project you’re working on?”
• “What do you think about X idea?”
6. Do less, but do it better.
10 dimes > 100 pennies.
Being interesting, asking creative questions, and giving not taking is WORK.
You just can’t do it with everyone. Choose your crew wisely.
10 dimes > 100 pennies.
Being interesting, asking creative questions, and giving not taking is WORK.
You just can’t do it with everyone. Choose your crew wisely.
7. The Friend Flywheel.
You can still grow a network of 125+ people with low-lift:
Keep just 5 great humans in your close network.
You get access to the 5 in theirs.
You can still grow a network of 125+ people with low-lift:
Keep just 5 great humans in your close network.
You get access to the 5 in theirs.
This flywheel system worked for:
• Musk, Thiel, & the PayPal Mafia
• Fitzgerald, Hemingway, & the Lost Generation
• Tim Ferris, Lewis Howes, & the OG podcasters
• Musk, Thiel, & the PayPal Mafia
• Fitzgerald, Hemingway, & the Lost Generation
• Tim Ferris, Lewis Howes, & the OG podcasters
8. Bring People Together
Community creation can be the most powerful business relational tool.
@gregisenberg has been at the center of this philosophy:
"Old: build the product and then find the audience/community
Now: build the audience/community and then build the product"
Community creation can be the most powerful business relational tool.
@gregisenberg has been at the center of this philosophy:
"Old: build the product and then find the audience/community
Now: build the audience/community and then build the product"
@gregisenberg 9. "Friendship Is Like a Garden"
...or something like that. Point is, you can't forget to nurture this stuff.
I love working and hate scheduling a social life.
Luckily, I’m married to someone who's always exploring and inviting.
...or something like that. Point is, you can't forget to nurture this stuff.
I love working and hate scheduling a social life.
Luckily, I’m married to someone who's always exploring and inviting.
@gregisenberg 10. Big Events = Game-Changer
• What do you care about?
There's a conference for that.
• Who would you love to meet?
Go to the events they recommend.
My finance career started by obsessively learning at these places.
(I still try to go to at least 10 a year)
• What do you care about?
There's a conference for that.
• Who would you love to meet?
Go to the events they recommend.
My finance career started by obsessively learning at these places.
(I still try to go to at least 10 a year)
@gregisenberg Stop sending dead-end DMs.
Network like this instead:
• Be curious
• Less is more
• Ask questions
• Give don't take
• Don’t be boring
• Go to big events
• Leverage small talk
• Bring people together
• Build a Friend Flywheel
Network like this instead:
• Be curious
• Less is more
• Ask questions
• Give don't take
• Don’t be boring
• Go to big events
• Leverage small talk
• Bring people together
• Build a Friend Flywheel
@gregisenberg Surround yourself with the right people. Your bank account will grow.
Follow at @Codie_Sanchez for more content like this.
Follow at @Codie_Sanchez for more content like this.
@gregisenberg If you're looking for more ways to free your mind and build your bank account...
I write deep-dive breakdowns & playbooks each week to 225,000+ others.
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I write deep-dive breakdowns & playbooks each week to 225,000+ others.
Subscribe to my newsletter here:
contrarianthinking.co
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