Why Your Network Is More Valuable Than Money

What if I told you the fastest way to rebuild your life, your business, and even your mindset after failure… isn’t more money or hustle?

It’s relationships.

That’s the story of Shawn Finnegan.

He lost $1.5 million in his first business, leveraged his home and car just to stay afloat, and was somehow able to pay it all back (plus interest) within a year—because he prioritized relationship building and meaningful partnerships.

Check out my full conversation with Shawn Finnegan here:

The Power of One Decision

When he was at rock bottom, Shawn asked himself a hard question:

Where did I go wrong?

The answer: he’d spent all his time grinding—and not enough time building relationships.

So he made a choice. He would never build alone again. He started reaching out, showing up, and building genuine connections. Within 12 months, he paid back the $1.5M, rebuilt his business, and eventually co-founded Tax Hive with Kevin O'Leary.

3 Powerful Networking Tips That Actually Work

Shawn now teaches what saved him: intentional relationship building.

Here are his 3 “powers of networking”:

1. Live Events: Don’t just show up. Walk in with purpose. Introduce yourself first—and always follow up.

2. Your Phone Contacts: You already know hundreds (maybe thousands) of people. Reconnect. Add value. Build momentum.

3. Referrals: Treat them like gold. Follow up fast. Make it easy for people to refer you again.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Turning a $1.5M loss into a second chance through relationship building
• Why showing up with intention at live events changes the game
• The #1 thing most people miss when networking
• How to turn your existing phone contacts into a referral machine
• What it really means to play offense with your relationships

If you’re an entrepreneur, creator, or someone trying to find your rhythm again... this story is for you.

And if you’ve been isolating? Let this be your sign to get back out there.

Connect & Support:

📧 UPBEAT Newsletter 🎤 Book Parker to Speak | 📝 Leave a Podcast Review

Tools I Recommend:

🎙️ Build Your Podcast Website with Podpage - What powers 20K+ podcaster websites
📧 Launch Your Newsletter with Beehiiv - 30-day free trial + 20% OFF
📚 Grow Your Brand with a Book - Free strategy session with Parker

These are platforms I personally use and trust. Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.