For better or worse, you need other people in your sphere of influence.
At worst, the “negative” people around you are destructive – restricting you, taking advantage of you, or hurting you. In that case, you leave, you live, and you learn.
But at best, in most cases, other people serve as points of potential – nodes on a net that you can call on.
I used to hold back in seeking new relationships due to my natural introversion.
The fact is, you won’t get very far in life with that mentality. You need a team.
The reality is that: The more relationships you have, the more resources and opportunities you’ll be exposed to.
The worst position in life is to be completely cut off, with no support, no options, no network.
Other people can, and will, help you.
But more than that, the more people you’re linked to, the more valuable you become because now you can be a connector, a facilitator, a broker, a matchmaker, an organizer.
You want “a guy” for everything. Someone you can call when you need something.
Start developing a network of willing partners who like you enough to answer the DM or text when you send it.
I gained more networking value from working part-time at a local wellness recovery studio in Las Vegas during the summer of 2025 – over four months – than I did from my corporate career behind a desk over ten years.
I met people who have invited me to join a men’s group, a cross fit gym, a pilates studio, and more. I met two Las Vegas business moguls – a wealthy CEO who always invited me to expensive dinners and a veteran restaurateur who owned several spots on the strip.
These are all little nodes of potential, each leading to more opportunities or chance encounters themselves.
That’s the power of people.
Befriending just one person can result in an exponential number of connections because if you add value and stick to your word, they will introduce you to more people who will introduce you to even more people.
This is a double-edged sword. Now you must learn what to share, with whom, and when.
Transparency is a nice idea, but isn’t always ideal in your personal life. To avoid leaks, cheats, and issues, it’s best to compartmentalize. Give people only what they need to get you what you need.
The challenge is to increase the number of people you have on speed dial while keeping your inner circle small and selective.
Think of it like a dart board. The bullseye should be disproportionately miniscule relative to the outer spheres.
You want to know a lot of people, but let very few into your private world.
Keep your circle small but your network large.
The goal is not fame or popularity or to be known by everyone – it’s to be known by the right people, in the right context, at the right time.
Cast your net wide for access, but keep it narrow for protection, privacy, and depth.