How Ignoring This One Piece of Advice Cost Me $500K in My 20s

Looking back, my 20s were a wild ride—full of energy, ambition, and more than a little arrogance. I was so caught up in the grind, I thought I was invincible. But here's the brutal truth: Ignoring one simple piece of advice ended up costing me $500K.

I was obsessed with the hustle, the next big deal, the rush of closing. I thought that was all it took to get ahead. But I was dead wrong. I ignored the advice to build and maintain strong relationships. I figured I could go it alone, relying solely on my own skills and hard work. That mistake bled me dry.

Then came the day that really drove it home. The one and only investor who had committed a large check to my deal suddenly called me up and said they couldn’t follow through. Just like that, my entire plan unraveled. If I had built a network of people I could call in a heartbeat—people who knew me, trusted me, and had the resources to step in—it could’ve been a completely different story. Instead, I was left scrambling, and the deal fell apart. That one call cost me more than just money; it cost me the momentum and confidence I’d worked so hard to build.

Fast forward to the end of my 20s, and I could see it clearly: the connections I didn’t bother to make, the mentors I didn’t seek out, the partnerships I overlooked—they were the difference between where I was and where I could’ve been. Those missed opportunities cost me $500K, if not more.

If I could go back, I'd slap some sense into my younger self and say, “It’s not about doing it all on your own. It’s about who’s in your corner.” Your network is your net worth, but here’s the catch: It’s got to be a valuable network. Just knowing people isn’t enough; you need people who can actually help you level up.

Here’s How You Can Build a Valuable Network as early as TODAY!

⁍➡Be Strategic About Who You Connect With: It’s not about the number of connections, but the quality. Seek out people who are where you want to be or who have strengths you don’t. These are the people who will push you to grow.
⁍➡Offer Value Before You Ask for Anything: Don’t just reach out with your hand out. Think about what you can offer first, whether it’s advice, a connection, or just genuine support. When you give, you build goodwill—and that’s the foundation of any valuable relationship.
⁍➡Invest in Real Relationships, Not Just Transactions: Attend events, join mastermind groups, or even just grab coffee with people you admire. Spend time building genuine relationships, not just collecting business cards.
⁍➡Find Mentors, Not Just Peers: It’s easy to surround yourself with people at your level, but you’ll grow faster by learning from those who are ahead of you. Seek out mentors who can guide you, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from their experiences.

The information contained herein is for general guidance on matters of interest only. This information contained herein is not intended to provide you with any advice on financial planning, investment, insurance, legal, accounting, tax or similar matters and should not be relied upon for such purposes. Marcin Drozdz, M1 Real Capital Inc are not financial, legal or tax advisers. You should assess whether you require such advisers and additional information and, where appropriate, seek independent professional advice. You understand this to be an expression of opinions and not professional advice. You are solely responsible for any actions you take with the content and hold Marcin Drozdz and M1 Real Capital Inc or any of it's affiliates harmless in any event or claim.