How to Build a Network Worth Billions

Happy Thursday,

Eric Siu here.

I frequently get asked how I've built my network, so here are my 'secrets':

1. Join peer groups

When I was 25 years old, I phoned an entrepreneur and asked what was most impactful to their success. They told me about a worldwide CEO group.

It wasn't until I joined that I realized how priceless it was to hang out with like-minded people from all walks of life.

Being able to participate in a 'forum' where you share your deepest secrets with your 10 brothers and sisters monthly is magical -- you won't truly know until you experience it.

Do it in person -- remote doesn't come close.

When you're around similar energy, the increased drive to do better not only for yourself but for others is contagious.

There are plenty of amazing peer groups, such as YPO or EO.

Find what fits you.

And if you don't qualify yet...

2. Create your own networking dinners

Before I qualified for any peer groups, I put together small dinners with like-minded people.

I did my very first one when I was a marketing leader, and I remember hosting it at my house.

I was broke at the time, so all we had was a half-eaten bag of chips to share. But the conversation was amazing.

We:
- Shared what we did
- Shared our struggles
- Shared something that was working well for us
- Put someone on the 'hot seat' to help them solve their issue

At the end of the day, it's the quality of the people that you get together that matters.

As the group matured, we eventually upgraded to eating Mediterranean takeout. 😉 

p.s. I've learned over the years that it's generally easier to just pay for everyone. It makes it a no-brainer deal for them to eat free food and hang out with amazing people.

3. Be the connector

It's free to connect people to one another. You can use a personal CRM to keep track of relationships and take notes on each person in your contacts.

Connect without expectation, and everything that you want will come back to you.

Recently, I learned one of my friends who has a large YouTube channel became best buddies with another person that I intro'ed who happened to live in the same city.

Stuff like that goes a long way because you'll create lasting impressions.

Who do you think people will go to first when they need something around what you do?

4. Start creating your own media empire

I've been podcasting for close to 10 years now, and my mission has always been to learn and teach.

My first 2 years of podcasting were abject failures if I based it on download count. Instead, I focused on the learnings and the relationships.

Some of those podcast interviewees have become my best real-life friends.

Creating content, in general, helps you expand your luck surface area.

If you keep doing anything for 10 years, you're going to reap the benefits of compounding.

You'll have great conversations with people that you normally wouldn't be able to talk to.

I'm now at 89 million downloads, and I ain't stopping anytime soon.

Eventually, you'll be able to...

5. Host events

Every year, I like to get marketing-minded founders together for 2 days of learning and networking.

Sure, it takes work, but here are the benefits:

1. You decide on the attendee list
2. You decide the price
3. You decide the content
4. You decide the activities

You get to create the event that you want while everyone else benefits from having great conversations, eating amazing food, and doing fun activities.

6. Create your own retreat

Back in 2018, I got a group of founders together, and we went to Cabo for a few days of learning and activities.

We have a core group of people who are all badasses in their own right.

ost have 8-figure companies. Some have sold for 9-figures. Some have 9-figure businesses.

We've all grown together through the years, and we have an iMessage chat where we share our learnings.

We also try to go to cool spots -- this year, we did Turkey.

Everybody just pays for hard costs and we rotate the planning duties.

High-quality people will always jump at the chance to hang with other high-quality people.

If you're the one quarterbacking it, it's a no-brainer offer:

- No work for them
- Hang with cool people
- Do fun stuff
- Eat great food

Ultimately, what matters is that you're learning from others and you're picking relevant experience shares and integrating them into your life.

What did I miss? Leave a reply letting me know.

Eric Siu

P.S. If you want help growing your business so that you can connect with other like-minded peers easily, request a free marketing plan from my team.