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How do I build a network of super-achievers?

by jjbalagosa
3 replies
"It's hard to soar with eagles, when your surrounded by turkey's!"

Anyone know that quote?

Something that has constantly been on my mind as of late is networking. More specifically, networking with entrepreneurs of the internet type. People like Kevin Rose, Frank Kern, Tim Ferriss, and Matt Mullenweg.

My purpose of this thread is to get Warriors to share whatever tips they know on meeting and networking with people that you want to be like.

How would you find them, shake their hand, have beers (or coffee) with them, etc?

I'll start:

  1. Find a way you can provide value to someone more successful than yourself. Then give it to them for free!
  2. Don't try to get to them directly. Instead get to know the people they know. Their gardener perhaps? Or their barber?
  3. When you do get to meet someone in the food chain, don't ask for any favors. Simply show genuine interest in them, their product, or their brand.
#build #network #superachievers
  • Profile picture of the author JasonChoi
    Rather than seeing them as 'super-achievers', look at them as normal people, and do whatever it takes to get in touch with them, like you would with any other person out there. Try facebook, or join their lists and respond to them.

    I get the sense from this post that you are thinking these people are some how of a higher status and that you are lower than them. Rather than seeing them in this way, realize that they also eat, sleep, fart, take showers, etc. At one point, they were babies that pooped and cried. They also probably went to school, just like any of us. It's just that they happened to know how to make money.

    When you meet new people in any social setting, is it necessary to have to provide value for them in order to become friends? Doesn't this suggest you feel lower than them? Perhaps I'm wrong. Regardless, in social settings people meet each other by simply talking to each other without any prejudment. I happened to connect with a woman who I believe is a high achiever (but not in IM). So how did I do that? I just gave her a call.

    In other words, see yourself just as valuable as they are, and you'll probably find creative ways to connect with them.
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    • Profile picture of the author jjbalagosa
      Originally Posted by JasonChoi View Post

      Rather than seeing them as 'super-achievers', look at them as normal people, and do whatever it takes to get in touch with them, like you would with any other person out there. Try facebook, or join their lists and respond to them.

      I get the sense from this post that you are thinking these people are some how of a higher status and that you are lower than them. Rather than seeing them in this way, realize that they also eat, sleep, fart, take showers, etc. At one point, they were babies that pooped and cried. They also probably went to school, just like any of us. It's just that they happened to know how to make money.

      When you meet new people in any social setting, is it necessary to have to provide value for them in order to become friends? Doesn't this suggest you feel lower than them? Perhaps I'm wrong. Regardless, in social settings people meet each other by simply talking to each other without any prejudment. I happened to connect with a woman who I believe is a high achiever (but not in IM). So how did I do that? I just gave her a call.

      In other words, see yourself just as valuable as they are, and you'll probably find creative ways to connect with them.
      I like your take as viewing them as normal people. It's definitely true that they are the same as you and I in the aspect you describe.

      It's not that I think I'm "lower" than they are. I think that the resources they could offer would greatly benefit me and my entrepreneurial endeavors.

      For instance Tim Ferriss (NY times bestselling author), Kevin Rose (Founder of Digg as well as dozens of successful start-ups), and Matt Mullenweg (Founder of Wordpress) are all part of the same circle. They frequently brainstorm together and fund each others' projects. Having friends like that, you can't help but be catapulted to success.

      I'm not trying to downplay relationships with the average Joe at all, but they can't offer the same when it comes to things like that. I don't know about you, but my neighbor down the street wouldn't be able to give me $350,000 that I need to fund one of my ideas.

      There are reasons why books, blogs, and even movies are created about these people. It's because they are extraordinary. And if you're constantly around extraordinary people, you can't help but become one. That's one of the reasons why Harvard students tend to make higher income than most, even if they drop out. They don't even necessarily have to be smart. The students are so well connected, that they can still be successful.

      You say to approach them like you would anyone else, but people at this level, are harder to get to talk to than most.

      For example, you say to simply follow them on Facebook or join their mailing list. Well, Kevin Rose has a Facebook fan page that has just shy of 375,000 subscribers. Let's say that just 1% of those people are really trying to become his personal friend. That means that I would be one of 3,750 people trying to get his attention.

      I can't just friend him and send him messages like some person I met at a networking event at my local bar. I'd basically just as invisible as another person in a crowd.

      But let's say you're trying to get someone like Donal Trump as an actual contact in your network of people. How would you get someone like that to give you their personal phone number so you can call them up to have beers with them from time to time?

      Would you simply come up to them and ask? It's nice to think it would be that easy, but in reality, you probably won't get passed his security team.

      The tips I gave above are not my own by the way. They are directly from Tim Ferris himself. You can the video he talks about it here. It's the same video that inspired me to start this thread.

      How to meet famous people - YouTube
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  • Profile picture of the author anthonywaldrop
    great share
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