The fastest route to your goal is not another hack or a secret app. It is people. My stance is simple: ask someone who has already done it for directions and make yourself useful to as many people as you can. As Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute and the former CEO of Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, that simple rule has moved me further, faster, than any plan on paper.
The fastest way to get to where you want to be is to ask someone that’s already there for directions.
Too many try to figure it out alone. That is pride disguised as strategy. Access beats ego. Direction from someone ahead of you removes years of trial and error. The shortcut is earned by humility and service.
The two questions that change everything
Each morning, my prayer is straightforward: “God, please give me at least 10 people I can help.” That habit guides every meeting and every message. I look at everyone as a sponsor or a power sponsor. Some can help directly. Others can introduce the exact person who can. Either way, people are the path.
I look at everyone as a sponsor and a power sponsor in my life.
Two questions drive my day:
- How can I help you?
- Do you know anyone that could help me?
Ask the first to build trust. Ask the second to open doors you cannot see. One creates value. The other creates velocity.
Why this works
Help is the most renewable currency. When you lead with service, people remember. They refer. They answer the second call. Over time, those deposits compound into opportunities that look like luck from the outside.
In sports, deals rarely came from cold pitches. They came from somebody who knew somebody. A trainer introduced a GM. A teammate vouched for a young player. A parent shared a story that changed a draft board. That is not magic. It is a system of asking and serving.
There is a common pushback: “Shouldn’t skill or hard work be enough?” Skill matters. Effort matters. But direction turns effort into results. A marathoner still needs a course map. Running faster without it just means getting lost sooner.
How to practice this today
Turn this from a slogan into a system you can use. Keep it simple and repeatable.
- Set a daily help quota: aim for 10 specific people you can assist.
- Ask for directions: reach out to one person already where you want to be.
- Use the two questions: “How can I help?” and “Do you know anyone that could help me?”
- Track introductions: log who connects you, and thank them twice.
- Close the loop: report back on outcomes so people see the impact.
These steps are small, but they stack. Ten meaningful touches a day is 3,650 a year. Even a five percent response rate becomes a steady stream of guidance, clients, mentors, and friends.
Sponsors and power sponsors
I sort relationships into two helpful lanes. A sponsor can help me directly with advice or a decision. A power sponsor may not be the answer, but they know the person who is. This is where most people miss out. They only look for the final link and ignore the links that lead there.
I’m collaborating in a sense of, “Hey, do you know anyone that could help me?” And then I see people as either they can help me or they know someone that could help.
You do not need more contacts. You need more clarity on what to ask, whom to ask, and how to follow up. Clarity invites help. Vague requests burden people. Be specific about the direction you need and the value you can offer in return.
The mindset shift
Stop treating networking like a transaction. Treat it like stewardship. The goal is not to collect business cards. The goal is to collect wins for other people, and let that record speak for you. Service builds reputation. Reputation builds access. Access builds outcomes.
This is not theory. It is repeatable. It is teachable. And it is fast—if you are willing to ask.
Final thought
Help ten people today. Ask one person who has already won for directions. Do it again tomorrow. That rhythm will move you further than any shortcut you found on your own. The map is out there. Have the humility to follow it and the generosity to pass it on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I say when reaching out to someone ahead of me?
Be brief and specific. Share your goal in one sentence, ask one clear question, and offer one way you can help them or their mission.
Q: How do I find a “power sponsor” if my network is small?
Start with who you already know—friends, colleagues, alumni, community groups. Ask each person, “Who is the best person to talk to about X?” Then follow the chain.
Q: What if I feel like I have nothing to offer in return?
You can always offer time, feedback, introductions, or a case study. Share their work, attend their events, or help them hit a small target this week.
Q: How often should I follow up after an introduction?
Reply within 24 hours, share a result within two weeks, and send a thank-you update when progress happens. Keep it short and useful.
Q: How do I avoid coming across as transactional?
Lead with service. Ask what they need first. Be generous without an immediate ask. When you do ask, keep it clear, light, and respectful of their time.
