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The Wealth Elevator

Networking Guide > Lesson 4

Find a Mentor and Make Your Networking Plan

Lesson 4 of 4 · About a 5-minute read · By Lane Kawaoka · Updated November 2026

Short answer

Find people one floor up the Wealth Elevator and listen to them, especially when they disagree with you. Then follow a two-part plan: always help people first, and spend your time at curated events where the attendees are screened.

Find a mentor

Tim Ferriss has talked on his podcast about how much a good mentor shortens the learning curve, and I agree. The trait that matters most here is self-awareness. Look, I get it. When we are kids and teenagers we are idiots, and some adults still act like it. Knowing how you come across to other people is humbling, and it is one of the most important parts of anyone’s development. Ego is the thing that gets in the way of greatness.

From my own investing

Here are a few things I changed my mind on after hearing other viewpoints and seeing new data:

I thought getting 10 Fannie Mae loans for turnkey rentals was a good investing strategy. Then I found syndications.

I thought life insurance was a scam. Then I learned about Accredited Investor Banking and infinite banking.

I thought I would be 100% in real estate. Then I realized the right mix slides depending on where you are on the Wealth Elevator.

The key is to find the people on your floor and listen to the people one level up.

Find your floor on the Wealth ElevatorThree stacked floors. One floor up are mentors to learn from. Your own floor holds peers to compare notes with. One floor down are people you can help.YOUOne floor upMentors: listen hardest when they disagree with youYour floorPeers: your people, compare notes as equalsOne floor downPeople you help: give back what you learned

The Wealth Elevator "Git 'er done" plan

  1. Always help people first. There is no social contract for quid pro quo in networking, but be ready to say clearly what you are looking for.
  2. Be selective, and go to events where the attendees are curated. Higher-end events are worth it because the people there are a different caliber. They have an abundance mindset and the ability to make things happen. Keep an eye on our events page.

Watch: Po and I on creating a mini retreat for deeper connection with your people (18 min, The Rich Life Podcast, April 2026).

Key takeaways

  • Look for mentors one floor up, and listen hardest when they disagree with you.
  • Self-awareness beats ego. Be willing to change your mind when the data changes.
  • The plan: help people first, and spend your time at curated, screened events.

Ask AI about this lesson

Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Perplexity and fill in the brackets. AI tools can be wrong, so treat the answer as a starting point, not a decision.

I am at this stage: [for example W-2 with a few rentals, just sold a business, or retired]. Using the lesson at thewealthelevator.com/home/guides/networking-guide/mentor-and-plan/ as background, describe what people one floor up from me usually look like, where I might meet them, and a simple 90-day plan to help people first and spend my time at curated events. Do not recommend specific investments or sponsors.

Related reading from the blog

What happens when you join

  1. Fill out the short form at /club. Joining is free.
  2. Book your onboarding call. We talk about your goals and how the community works.
  3. Keep learning with our events, the podcast and member education.

Talk it through with us

Ready to put the plan to work? Our community is where accredited investors on your floor, and one floor up, compare notes. Join the club and book your onboarding call with us.

Join the club and book your onboarding call

Joining is free.

The Rich Life Podcast cover art

The podcast behind this course

The Rich Life Podcast

Dr. Po Wu and I talk about the parts of a good life that money alone does not fix: friendships, marriage, health and finding your people.

Listen on Apple PodcastsWatch on YouTube
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This is educational content, not investment, tax or legal advice. We are not attorneys, CPAs or financial planners. Private investments are illiquid and carry risk, including loss of capital. Offerings are available only to accredited investors and only through offering documents. Please let us know if you need a referral to a 💼 CPA, ⚖️ lawyer or other vendor here.