Trusted Circles: How Top Entrepreneurs Build Powerful, Loyal Business Networks (6/13/25)

In all my years in business, human nature has taught me one thing.

Relationships matter.

Not building the right relationships is a common trap that will suck in an unsuspecting business leader, costing valuable time, money and efforts when things are discovered to be not what they seem.

I have friends and business associates that have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not millions) from deals gone wrong when a trusted partner had hidden the truth.

Here are three principles to live by in partnerships and relationships in business.

Build relationships for the long term and be very selective with who you align with.

Sharran Srivatsaa didn’t begin his career as the powerhouse leader he is today—he started on a much humbler stage. He has gone on to forge the path as a leader in real estate, building two billion dollar real estate firms with teams of leaders around him. His legacy is built on relationships with others.

With everything in business, it is your responsibility as a leader to look five steps ahead and to build out a set of values that supports you in that journey.

Here are a few tips on how to implement this in your business:

1. Create a community where you can get to know the people in your circle.

2. Observe how people show up and casually ask other people about them. How are they known in the business world? What do other people have to say about them.

3. Watch for people in your circle who show up consistently, year after year, and ask for nothing in return. These are unicorn leaders.

4. Although personal relationships are not always an indicator of character, they can give insight. Are they married? Have you met their spouse? Is there spouse supportive of their work in business?

5. Allow people to be vulnerable with you. This happens over time, and through interacting on a regular basis.

Second, keep your circle of friends small.

British anthropologist Robin Dunbar proposed that humans can maintain about 150 meaningful relationships, but only about 5 of those are “inner circle” close friends, with the next 10–15 being good friends.

In a business environment, your five friends are those who will speak truth into you. They will stand by you in good times and bad. They are someone who you can learn from, and they learn from you.

Value loyalty, integrity and honesty and develop the friendships you will carry throughout your business life.

Reserve your high level conversations for only your closest friends.

Just as critical is to always be expanding your circle.

Go to high level networking events with the sole purpose of meeting five new people.

Watch for patterns in human behavior to begin to identify natural leaders and also to weed out people that will suck up your energy.

Place yourself in the right rooms and avoid the wrong ones. Choose events carefully. Your time is your most valuable asset.

Third, be a person of character in all areas of your life.

"How you do anything is how you do everything."

This quote attributed to T. Harv Eker from his book The Secrets of the Milliionaire Mind sets the framework for how to live life.

Become the person you were meant to become by always working to improve your life. 

This is a lifetime journey.

It is easy for each of us to judge ourselves harshly. 

Instead of judgement, shift to a place of curiosity. 

Be curious about how you can improve your relationships in business.

Be curious about how you can show up as your best self.

Be curious about what you can do today to improve your personal environment (your home), your personal relationships, and how you show up with others.

Each day strive to be your best self, and you will naturally begin to attract the right people into your life.

1. For large opportunities, partner only with someone you have known for over one year.
   

2. Keep your circle of friends small but continue to expand your influence.
   

3. Be a person of character.

Having a set of principles for business relationships is essential.

Learn to set better boundaries and develop a systematic process for creating quality relationships in business.