The People Behind Your Biggest Wins (And How to Build That Team)
I’ve spent over 30 years building things on the internet—from games to podcasts to cryptocurrency movements. And I can tell you with absolute certainty: none of it happened because I was some genius working alone. Every significant win in my career came down to one thing: finding the right people and knowing how to leverage that relationship for real value.
This isn’t obvious to most people, which is exactly why it’s such a powerful advantage if you understand it.
How I Got Here: The Stories That Built My Career
Back in 1996, I was obsessed with online games but terrible at coding. I met a guy named Eron who had a rough multiplayer game prototype but zero marketing instincts. We weren’t trying to build a business empire—we were just two guys who loved what the other could do.
We combined his code with my marketing, and within a couple years, Yahoo! acquired it for a seven-figure deal. The actual work was fun because we were playing, hyping each other up, building something we both believed in.
That’s not luck. That’s leverage.
Fast forward to the Bad Crypto Podcast. My co-host Travis Wright and I have this natural chemistry—we can riff about cryptocurrency like stand-up comics, genuinely enjoying the banter. That chemistry built a community that’s now in its ninth year and reaches global audiences. We’re entering our second decade because the collaboration itself is sustainable. It doesn’t feel like work.
Even my reality TV project, The Next Internet Millionaire, worked because I found someone whose production savvy blended perfectly with my entrepreneurial angle. Different skills, same mission, genuine respect for what each person brought to the table.
Why Relationships Are Your Real Competitive Advantage
Solo, you’re limited by your own skills and energy. With the right allies, you’re a completely different animal.
When I linked up with Eron, our combined output wasn’t just double what either of us could do alone—it was exponentially better. His code didn’t matter without my ability to market it. My marketing couldn’t work on a product that didn’t exist. We needed each other.
That’s the relationship sweet spot: two people who both need what the other brings to the table.
This is why most solo entrepreneurs hit a ceiling and then burn out. They’re trying to be good at everything, which means being mediocre at most things. The moment you find someone who’s genuinely great at what you’re terrible at, your options expand dramatically.
The multiplier effect is real. It’s not about using people. It’s about throwing a party where everyone has fun and makes money.
The Practical Path to Building Your Team
If you want to stop grinding alone and start leveraging relationships, here’s what actually works:
Find people who vibe with your passion, not just your project. Hunt for folks who share your spark. Check X, local meetups, online forums. Look for people who have skills you lack—they’re your power-ups. But more importantly, find people you actually want to spend time with. If you dread working with them, it won’t scale.
Make it a genuine win-win. I marketed Eron’s game while he built it. We split the glory equally because we both contributed equally. Don’t come into a partnership thinking about what you can extract. Come in thinking about what you can build together. Fair deals are the foundation of long-term collaborations.
Start small and test before you go big. My earliest collaborations were tiny swaps—free software for reviews, one-off projects with designers. Those small wins told me which partnerships were actually sustainable. Dip your toes in with a mini-project first. If it clicks and it’s fun, scale it.
Make the process itself enjoyable. My podcast sessions feel like a comedy club with genuine laughs. That’s not an accident. We intentionally make it fun because fun is sustainable. Work that feels like play attracts better people, produces better output, and generates better results.
Stay flexible about where the partnership goes. My game site collaboration led to speaking gigs I never expected. The podcast opened doors to crypto events. If a project pivots, adapt with your team instead of abandoning it. Flexibility keeps both the fun and the profits flowing.
The Real Opportunity You’re Missing Right Now
Here’s what most people don’t realize: your biggest financial and personal wins are sitting dormant in relationships you haven’t built yet.
A random coffee conversation could be your next co-founder. A skill trade could turn into a revenue stream. A genuine collaboration could become the thing you’re known for.
I’ve seen hobbyist streamers hit 10,000 viewers after a Twitch buddy shouted them out. I’ve seen photographers turn side hustles into full-time workshops because a crafty friend shared their work. I’ve seen podcasts land major sponsors because a listener loved the vibe and made an introduction.
That’s leveraging relationships done right. And the best part? It doesn’t feel like the typical “networking grind.” It feels like building something real with people you actually like.
The game isn’t about working harder alone. It’s about finding people who are great at what you’re not, then building something neither of you could build by yourself.
Start now. Message one person who shares your vibe. Pitch a small collaboration—a social media swap, a joint project, a skill trade. Keep it light, keep it mutual, keep it fun. Your next team-up could be your rocket to the stars.
Want to dig deeper into how to turn passion into profit? Join me on my podcast or check out my upcoming book, AI Made Simple, where I talk through the real stories behind building these kinds of relationships in the modern age. And if you want to stay in the loop on what’s actually working in business and tech right now, sign up for my newsletter—I share the lessons most people only learn the hard way.
Your next collaboration is out there. Are you ready to find it?
