The Power of Relationships
Let me paint you a picture of the true power of relationships.
I'm writing this from 30A, where I just wrapped up an incredible weekend that wouldn't have been possible without years of intentional network building.
But let's back up to a moment that really drove this lesson home.
Picture this: Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Historical snowfall for the first time since 1971. My family and I are making snowmen on the beach – a once-in-a-lifetime moment that we'll never forget.
Then reality hits.
We woke up the next morning to frozen pipes.
No running water.
And if you've never been in this situation, let me tell you – you've got exactly two toilet flushes before you're in serious trouble.
This is where most people would panic.
But here's where the power of relationships kicked in.
Within two hours, my entire family was relocated to a beautiful rental less than 5 minutes away, with an even better view than our original spot.
How?
One phone call to someone in my network whose mom happened to have a rental property nearby.
This isn't about luck.
It's about the compound interest of relationships built over years.
In December, my wife comes back from brunch saying we need to head to 30A because some of the mom group would be there.
Within 30 minutes, I had secured us a gorgeous property through someone I knew from the company that bought my insurance agency.
Here's the truth about networking that nobody tells you:
It's not about collecting business cards.
It's not about LinkedIn connections.
It's not even about what you can get from others.
It's about being intentionally present in rooms where opportunities live.
Think about it:
Every person you meet is a potential door to a solution you don't yet know you need
Every conversation is a deposit in the relationship bank
Every genuine connection is a safety net being woven beneath you
But here's the kicker – you can't wait until you need something to start building these relationships.
The time to plant these seeds was yesterday.
The second-best time?
Right damn now.
I've spent years showing up, engaging, connecting with anyone and everyone who crossed my path.
Not because I needed something, but because I understood a fundamental truth:
Your network is your net worth – but not in the way most people think.
It's not about the dollars in your bank account.
It's about the doors that open when others would be locked out.
It's about the phone calls that get answered when everyone else goes to voicemail.
It's about having options when others face dead ends.
The opportunities are out there.
The rooms are waiting to be entered.
The connections are ready to be made.
But here's my question for you:
Are you willing to put in the reps?
Are you ready to show up consistently, even when there's no immediate payoff in sight?
Are you prepared to be the person who adds value first and trusts that it will come back multiplied?
Because that's what it takes.
That snowman on the beach?
That wasn't just a magical moment with my family.
It was the result of years of relationship building that turned a potential crisis into another adventure.
To your freedom and connections,
Mike
P.S. If you're ready to start building a network that serves as both your safety net and your ladder up, you need to come to Madison, WI for The Madison Mastermind. Reply “MASTERMIND” for more information. See you in May!
