Your Network Shapes Your World - Not Just Your Wealth

I write weekly on tactics and insights on cultivating authentic relationships that matter to your business, career, and life.

Last week, I dragged myself to yet another Zoom meeting. You know the kind - where you're secretly hoping your internet cuts out or your kid has another "emergency" that requires your immediate attention involving a stuffed giraffe.

But 90 minutes later, I felt like I could bend steel with my bare hands. Not from the coffee (though my morning matcha probably helped), but from the sheer energy of the other entrepreneurs in that mastermind session. One person shared how they completely reinvented their business model after a major setback. Another walked us through their framework for making impossible decisions. By the time we wrapped up, my to-do list had morphed from "survive until Friday" to "change the world by Tuesday."

Here's the thing - we often talk about our network in terms of opportunities. Who can refer us business? Who might hire us? Who could invest in our company? While that's all valuable, we're missing something far more profound.

The people we surround ourselves with shape our reality. They expand (or contract) what we believe is possible. They challenge our assumptions. They pull us forward when we're stuck in our own mental mud.

And it doesn't stop at the office door.

When my wife and I were expecting our first child, we were drowning in parenting books and conflicting advice (ok, fine, I was - my wife is much wiser than me). But in the end, do you know where most of our best parenting moves came from?

Our network.

The same people who were pushing me to think bigger in business became our guides through midnight feedings and sleep training. We borrowed (okay, straight-up stole) our core approach to infancy from a founder friend, our method for handling the deluge of photos from a mentor, and our strategy for fostering independence from a vendor-turned-confidant. Years later, I’m still ridiculously proud of these borrowed parenting moves.

Because the truth is - your network isn’t just about business growth. It’s about life growth.

The same people who challenge you to build a better company can help you build a better family, be a better friend, or finally nail that morning routine you've been struggling with for years.

Taking Action:

✅ Audit your calendar. Look at your last month of meetings - who left you buzzing with ideas? Who left you drained? Start shifting the ratio.

✅ Identify your “growth circle”. Pick 3-5 people who consistently inspire you (in any area of life). Set up a regular check-ins. It could be a quick video call, a voice note, or even just a meme exchange that keeps the connection alive.

✅ Create space for serendipity. Host a dinner (more on that in future posts). Join a mastermind. Get into the habit of meeting up with interesting, ambitious, thoughtful humans.

✅ Tap into your people when you hit a wall. Stuck on a business decision? Parenting dilemma? Life conundrum? Reach out to your network. You might be surprised where the best advice comes from.

Remember - you're not just the average of the five people you spend the most time with. You're the product of the conversations, ideas, and energy you're exposed to. So choose wisely!

Until next week,

Zvi

P.S. What's the last conversation that completely changed your perspective - in business or life? Seriously, hit reply. I love these stories.

On YouTube: 3 Powerful Networking Tips for Beginners (That Actually Work)

Networking felt pointless to me at first—I just wanted to do my job and go home. But over time, I realized how much a strong network can actually help. In this video, I’m sharing what I wish I knew sooner about building meaningful connections (without feeling fake).

Topics Covered:

✅ Why I thought networking was useless—and what changed my mind

✅ The simple definition of a network (it’s not just for business people!)

✅ Three key strategies to build your network from scratch

✅ The one mindset shift that makes networking way easier

✅ Why networking is a long-term game (and how to make it work for you)

You can see all my videos and interviews on my channel! If you find these helpful, I’d appreciate a like, subscribe, and share with a friend, colleague, or enemy.

If you found this valuable, you might love Relatable. It’s the CRM built from the ground up to help you grow your network, not your business pipeline (but it does that too).