⭕️ The One Thing I Regret Not Prioritizing Sooner

Hey my friend,

This might be one of THE most valuable newsletters I’ve ever sent—but before we dive in, let’s talk about the elephant in the room.

It’s been a hot minute (okay, more like a long while) since I last reached out.

Do I have a good excuse? Nope.

If I’m being real, consistency and sticking to things have always been tough for me. Ask my mum, and she’ll call me a “lazy bum” without hesitation—haha.

But here we are now, ready to start fresh. This year, I want to write more and share all the cool, behind-the-scenes things I’m learning.

So, expect to hear from me more often. There’s a lot of exciting stuff coming your way this year!

Now, let’s jump right in..

read time: 6 mins

We have 49 weeks left in 2025. If there is something you want to work on, someone you want to talk to, a dream you want to achieve - don’t wait for tomorrow.

Tomorrow never comes. 

Start Today.

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of more opportunities here.

What I Learned After 8 Years of Building Relationships

This year marks 8 years since I started my journey as an entrepreneur when I was 15. Looking back, one thing I wish I focused on earlier? Relationships.

When I was starting out, I used to think, “I’ll just focus on my work. Relationships will figure themselves out.” Spoiler: they don’t.

You’ve probably heard the usual advice—“Network more!” or “Go for coffee chats!”—but here’s the truth: most of that advice misses the point. The real gold? It’s not about meeting new people—it’s about maintaining relationships.

The Infinite Deposit Rule

Before diving into the list, let me share the #1 thing I’ve learned: treat your relationships like a bank account. Every time you check in, offer help, or show gratitude, you’re making a deposit. Every time you ask for something, you’re making a withdrawal.

The goal? Make infinite, unconditional deposits—so many that when you need help, it’s a no-brainer for them to say yes.

This doesn’t mean keeping score. Instead, it’s about being thoughtful and giving without expecting anything in return. Relationships aren’t transactions—they’re about trust, care, and generosity.

15 Ways to Build Better Relationships

(a lot of the ideas I borrowed from my coaching program which I highly recommend you check out and the rest I develop over the years)

Easy

1. “I Thought of You”
   Every day, you come across things that remind you of people—a restaurant, a meme, or even a random street. When this happens, snap a picture and send it with a quick note like: “Hey, this reminded me of that time we...” It’s simple but super meaningful.

2. Happy Birthday
   Remember how Facebook used to remind us about birthdays? Well, now it’s up to you (because who uses Facebook anymore). Add your friends' birthdays to Google Calendar and make it a habit to send a message. Want to stand out? Record a quick 30-second video instead of just typing “Happy Birthday!”

   Example: Here’s a video I sent my friend Ve.

3. Share Content
   You probably send memes to friends all the time, right? Why not do the same with podcasts, articles, or reels? For example, “Hey, I just listened to Huberman Lab’s episode on gut health, and I remembered we talked about this last time!”

Medium

4. Write a Testimonial
   If someone’s helped you or made an impact, hop onto LinkedIn and write them a recommendation. Imagine waking up to a thoughtful note about your work—why not be the person who gives that feeling to others?

   Here’s how to write a LinkedIn recommendation.

5. Happy Anniversary
   When you form a new relationship, mark the date. A year later, send a simple note: “Can you believe it’s been a year since we started working together? So grateful for you!”

6. Take Notes
   After every conversation, jot down personal details—like someone mentioning their kid’s soccer game or their favorite coffee shop. Next time you talk, you’ll have something meaningful to ask or follow up on.

7. Get Personal
   Professional relationships aren’t just about work. Ask people about their family, hobbies, or favorite activities. Be open about your own life, too—it builds trust and connection.

Hard

8. Make an Introduction
   The easiest way to help someone? Introduce them to someone they need to know. Example: If you see I’m looking for principals for my speaking tour, and you know someone at your high school, connect us.

   Pro tip: Always ask both people first before making the intro, and make the email super thoughtful. Here’s an example of an intro email I wrote:

9. Create a Playlist
   Take 10-15 minutes to create a personalized playlist of songs, podcasts, or books for someone. It’s free, thoughtful, and memorable. You can even use AI to help you.

10. Handwritten Cards
    Old-school but timeless. Write a thank-you note or just a “thinking of you” card. For work connections, send it to their office (address is usually online). For personal ones, ask someone they trust for their address.

11. Bring a Gift
    When I moved to Canada, I started bringing small Tanzanian gifts like coffee, cashews, or animal ceramics whenever I met someone. It’s a small gesture, but it stands out.
    
    For The Pros
    

12. Use AI to Stand Out
    If someone you admire is super busy, use AI to stand out. For example, I could input Sahil Bloom’s newsletters, tweets, and videos into ChatGPT, ask it to summarize the highlights, and send him a message like: “Hey Sahil, here are some of your best ideas all in one place—thought you might like this!”

13. Start a Fake Podcast
    Want to connect with someone? Ask to “interview” them on your podcast—even if it’s just a fake one. Record on Zoom, post it to Spotify, and boom: you’ve had a meaningful conversation and built a relationship.

14. Use a PRM
    If you want to stay super organized, use a Personal Relationship Manager (PRM) like Dex. It tracks birthdays, anniversaries, and notes on your connections. Here’s a $20-off link.

15. Dedicate a Day
    Relationships take time, so set aside a few hours a week to work on them. For me, Fridays are relationship days—I reply to messages, send thank-yous, record podcast episodes, and do everything else on this list.

From Our Community

This section is where we shoutout all the different cool things happening in our 50,000+ community. Let’s use our joint collective to support each other:

• Sam is hosting a free webinar on Thursday on how he grew his speaking business to $700,000 as a 25 year old. Check it out here

• Kushagra launched this really cool newsletter about design and gamification

• Melati just launched her book Change Starts Now. Let’s show her some love and add it to our carts

• Ron is building curiosity learning and you can join him by starting a club in your community

• Are you a sports lover? Wahaab and Wasay launched this really cool sports newsletter called the Gameplan

Want us to feature your work? Simply refer the newsletter with 3 other people and we’ll feature you in our next edition.

My friend, although there’s a lot happening around the world, I am feeling really optimistic with this year. I know it’s going to be tough and long but I am excited for everything in store for you.

Honestly, I just want to say how grateful I am for you always having my back and supporting me on here. It means more than you know to me - so truly, thank you friend.

Sending you a lot of good vibes from Toronto,

With love,

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