Network 2 Levels Up: The Power of Curiosity in Building Relationships

I first encountered an organization called YPO when I was 25 years old. I remember being completely blown away by the caliber of people I met there—their remarkable accomplishments not just in business, but in life. They were shaping their companies, nurturing their families, and giving back to their communities. These people were exactly the kind of individuals I aspired to be around. Even then, I knew I would join the organization someday.

Fast forward to when I was 34, Enalas was still in its early years. I could barely scrape together enough taxable revenue to meet YPO’s membership requirements, but I found a way. I was nervous; I felt like I was punching two weight classes above where I should be. But I also knew this was an education I couldn’t pass up. The chance to observe how people at these levels operate—their decision-making, their priorities, their methods—was invaluable.

I worried I wouldn’t belong. After all, what could I offer to people running companies far larger than mine? But as it turns out, my presence did matter. I became the young, aggressive, bootstrapping entrepreneur they could learn from—someone who could figure out how to achieve results with far fewer resources. They were intrigued by my scrappy approach, and I learned about scaling efficiently and thinking more strategically from them. It was a symbiotic relationship, one that taught me that success in networking doesn’t rely on pretending you’re something you’re not. Authenticity and sincerity go a long way in forging meaningful connections.

This brings me to one of the most important lessons I’ve learned: networking is not a linear path. It’s not always clear, sometimes it’s uncomfortable, and yes, occasionally it feels like a waste of time. But every now and then, you’ll build a relationship that changes the entire direction of your life.

For me, networking is a time to be genuinely curious about people. I don’t see it as an obligation or a task; I see it as a window into how others view the world. What are they reading? What are they working on? What are they struggling with? What do they hope for? And most importantly, what do I have to offer them, and what can I learn from them?

Some of the most rewarding relationships I’ve built started as simple conversations driven by curiosity. Those connections have inspired me, challenged me to think differently, and provided resources that I would’ve never discovered on my own. They’ve also helped me recruit talent, get advice when I needed it, and even allowed me to help others.

More importantly, many of these business relationships have evolved into personal friendships—ones that have had a profound impact not just on my life, but on the lives of my family and, in many ways, the generations to come.

So, when you think about networking, remember: it’s not just about climbing the next rung on the ladder. It’s about showing up authentically, being open to learning, and creating relationships that can shape your journey in ways you may never expect.

Below are some brief networking tips I have curated over time.

Curiosity to get conversations started:

• What are people reading?
• What are people doing?
• What are peoples hopes?
• What are they struggling to discern?
• What do I view as authenticity?
• What do I have to offer others?
• What can I learn from others?

My ultimate goal of networking is to build relationships, some of the side benefits of tose efforts are:

• Inspiration
• Ways to do things differently
• Recruit Talent
• Get help
• Give help