We all know networking is important, but how often do you use "I don't have time" as an excuse for failing to build your professional relationships?
In this archive episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata sits down with global entrepreneur and networking expert Gil Petersil. Gil challenges the traditional, polite rules of networking, offering a blunt and radical approach to managing your time, your energy, and your connections.
If you are serious about growth, Gil argues, you must be willing to do the uncomfortable work: conducting a brutal audit of your current relationships and making the difficult decision to cut ties with people who no longer serve your life's destiny—even if you've been friends for 30 years. Discover the concept of "co-elevation," the "Networking Angel," and why the most successful people treat their networks like a carefully cultivated garden.
What you will learn from this episode:
The "No Time" Myth: Why telling yourself you don't have time to network is an excuse, and how to instantly reclaim hours in your week by auditing your solo activities.
The Networking Angel: How busy executives use their assistants not just for scheduling, but as trained "Networking Angels" who manage and nurture crucial relationships on their behalf.
The Necessity of Cutting Ties: The uncomfortable truth about why holding onto old friends who do not inspire or "co-elevate" you is holding back your career and depleting your energy.
The Mastermind Meeting Protocol: How to transform wasteful 90-minute meetings into 45-minute masterclasses by enforcing strict presentation rules and cutting out aimless discussion.
The Permaculture of People: What a bamboo plant can teach you about the absolute necessity of building a diverse network outside of your own industry bubble.
Actionable Insights:
Conduct a 7-Day Networking Audit: Look back at your calendar for the last seven days. Who did you give your time to? How much time did you spend alone (driving, scrolling)? Identify areas where you are wasting energy on low-priority relationships or solo tasks, and redirect that time toward high-value connections.
Evaluate for "Co-Elevation": Write down the 5 to 10 people you spend the most time with. Are you helping them grow, and are they helping you grow? If the relationship lacks harmony and mutual inspiration, you need to create space and distance yourself to make room for new, more aligned connections.
Train Your "Networking Angel": If you have an assistant or a team, stop using them just for admin. Train them to take over the initial stages of relationship building: managing your inbox, handling basic follow-ups, and organising themed dinners or group meetings so you can connect with multiple key people at once without burning through your calendar.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube
Connect with Gil Petersil: Website |LinkedIn |
The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring
Episode Featuring Gil Petersil
