Mastermind Dinners: Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts, Influencers, and Linchpins

by Jayson Gaignard

At the end of each phone call I ask myself “Is this someone I would want to have dinner with?”,

overestimate what we can accomplish in a day, but underestimate what we can accomplish in a year.

Abundance creates energy, and envy (scarcity) drains it. You need to surround yourself with people who are batteries and not black holes.

Those who have a scarcity mindset look at relationships as transactional – “I do XYZ for you, and then I get to ask for something in return.” But here’s the truth… a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

Honesty, vulnerability and integrity are expensive gifts, don’t expect them from cheap people. If you don’t have honesty you can’t have connection.

If you don’t have the courage to be vulnerable at times you’ll never be able to reach a real level of depth in your relationships. If you don’t share your struggles, people won’t buy your successes.

Be a Talent Scout

urge you to seek depth (quality) and not breadth (quantity) in your relationships.

So my question to you is, are you focused on depth or breadth in your relationships? Quality or quantity? At the end of the day it’s not how many friends you can count, but how many friends you can count on.

“would you date yourself?”

if you want to connect with someone who’s a millionaire – what would make you interesting to a millionaire?

Entrepreneurs list their assets and liabilities for their business on a regular basis, so why not do it for yourself on a personal level? List your strengths, weaknesses, what makes you unique, and the ways you can provide value to

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, the second best time is now.” Work on building your story. There are things that I do in my life specifically to have a better story. When opportunities come my way to do something I often ask myself if when my wife is reading my eulogy will all she be able to say is that I was a “good husband, father, and friend who lived a very comfortable and uneventful life?” That thought scares the crap out of me, and I don’t want to leave my eulogy to chance. I jump at most opportunities that will lead to a better story, or a better life lived.

I have always surrounded myself with people who were one or two steps ahead of me.