The Only Skill You Need to Make Money in 2026

If you want to make more money this year, there's one skill that if you master, will easily make you more money than mastering sales, marketing, or AI ever could. And I've been able to master this skill over 30 years in business by going from broke 24-year-old to now building a hundred million dollar a year AI venture studio, [music] and getting opportunities daily that I never thought were possible. The skill is building relationships, and it can make you a ton of money. But there's four reasons why you need to master this skill that if you understand, will almost guarantee your success. Starting with reason number one, steel sharpens steel. >> [music] >> What I think people don't invest enough in is in relationships. I flew 3,000 miles to go meet somebody I care deeply about for 28 minutes. Even seeing Lewis, like he's a very old friend. I've known Lewis for 12 years. You know, he just had his twins and he's somebody I adore and like, look, if he wants to do the pod, I'd love to and but I just want to see Lewis, you know? Rob's the same thing. It's like, last time I saw Rob, we were supposed to hang out for an hour and talk about his new software company, and four hours later, we forgot to go to dinner and you know, talk like two college friends that hadn't seen each other in a while. >> Right. >> And and now I'm excited to do that again. So, I think the best relationships are the ones where you feel [music] like you've got a lot to learn and also you can contribute to. >> The ways you make money, the skills you have, get multiplied immediately when you build the right relationships. And I have so many stories that it's hard for me to choose which ones I want to share. >> [music] >> Someone that we really like consuming their content is a guy by the name of Tokyomoe, and I know that you're quite close with him. >> of my best friends. >> And we've talked about, you know, mentorship and helping people out and like, what has he helped you with, you know, in this next chapter of your life? The offer creation, the personal brand space content, maybe could help one of our listeners as well. I have a lot of love for Taki. I wouldn't be teaching people if it wasn't for Taki. As a software guy, I've always built software companies. I'm a software guy. And then [music] the best relationships you can have are people that not only you can learn from, but you can also support. And I think a lot of people they they never get those friends. You guys have that for each other. I can see it. I brought Taki in 8 years ago to just help me formulate the frame like I didn't know any of that stuff. The IP stuff, how do you do the YouTube stuff and all that. And then Taki 2 years ago, he hired me to coach him. >> That's hilarious. >> It's hilarious, but you need to understand our relationship. Like we're homies. I mention him in my book. Like like steel sharpens steel. Like we're still like like these two school kids just being like, "Hey bro, what are you up to? Look at this." And like we just just banter. >> We're going to get him on the show, which I'm super excited about. >> has been so much fun, Dan. >> Reason number two, it pays to be intentional. >> See, most people treat relationships like it's a soft skill, something you do like a nice-to-have. It's not. The relationships you have shape who you become whether you realize it or not. >> What I've always admired about Lewis that it took me a while to appreciate and actually double down on is the personal brand. Lewis was one of the first people that hired a professional photographer to do photography for his website 10 years ago. We're walking around Toronto and we can't go a block without him getting stopped. And I was like, "Bro, how crazy is this?" So, to see him I mean, beyond talk shows and the accolades and interview everybody. Like everybody. It's been just I cannot be a bigger fan of Lewis. Don't you leave me. Aw, I was hoping to see the twins. >> I know. >> The last time I saw Lewis was 2 years ago in 2024 and I haven't seen him since. And then I see him now and I'm like, bro, we can't go another 2 years without seeing each other again. >> Greatness. Dude, I was just bragging you up about the greatness. I remember that I didn't remember where I was driving when you "Hey bro, I bought the domain." >> Oh, really? >> Cuz I remember thinking, that's a big boy move. >> [laughter] >> It was fun. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Look at this. >> This is the green room here. >> Pro. Oh my gosh, this is like this is LA. I love being around just different people. Like I think you asked me that, right? Like He's like, "How do you choose the people you end up being friends with?" And I'm like, "I like people that bring different perspectives." And like I was talking about like, you know, the personal brand stuff. You know this. Like I've always been pro photos in New York City with that guy. I was like, "You were early, man." He bought blogs. He was like bull templates and then Louis launches his blog and it's like, "All right, bro. Are you a pro model? What are we doing here, man?" It's like lifestyle shots. >> You don't have stills. You have to to fake it until you make it, you know, when you don't have real talent like you. >> Yeah. That's what slowed it like cuz you I mean you you showed me for like 6, 7 years and I was like, >> Yeah, but now you're doing it. >> I'm doing it, man. I have the coolest new best friend. His name is John Maxwell. Leadership goat. Wrote so many incredible books. Great guy from Ohio, by the way. People come into your life to show you what's possible. I know you do that for everybody [music] to follow. That is That is what you're here to do and you do it so well and and and it's always funny people like, "Is Louis the real deal?" The realest of deals. Please get into him. Get to know Louis and and John's well as you know when they say, "Don't meet your heroes." Unless his name is John Maxwell. Oh my gosh, what a great human. So I'm hanging out with [music] them. This is not long ago, maybe 4 years ago and we're talking and I'm just in blown away at him at his event. He's just such a great great and and I asked him, I said, "How do you do it?" >> [music] >> You know, he goes, "Oh, it's I didn't I didn't know I'd do any of this." And then he tells me something that just shifted everything to me. He talked about the biggest impact. He says, "I have goals that are God-size goals. [music] And they're so big they're beyond my ability to know how to do them. And they're so big that it's the ceiling of his floor." How did that impact my life? Oh, I was under indexing. I was thinking small. I didn't have God-size goals. >> Oh, was that like a turning point for you in the conversation? >> Yes. It was um a core moment that I realized Mhm. That happened to get me to the point where I can have this conversation to then take the brakes off. >> Mhm. >> Lewis and I have known each other since 2009. Two guys still figuring it out. And I watched him for 15 years build the School of Greatness, write the books, build the brand, the mission. He didn't do that by being the smartest person in the room. He did it by being intentional about who he was learning from. That's literally the premise of this entire show. That's the master skill in action. It's not a single lesson. [music] It's that the right relationship compounds across everything you're already building. >> I always thought you were a little taller for some reason. >> Shut up, bro. >> were like >> Are you telling me I'm shrinking now? I am 6'3". >> No, you're not. That's not I'm 6'4". >> No, grab a grab a measure. >> I'm 6'4". >> Yeah. >> Yeah, but more than an inch. >> I think it's your shoulders. I think it's >> I'm like I'm wearing the hand mic. >> Is that it? >> shoulders are probably the same height. >> So, is that what's wrong with you? >> I'm like it's a wrap. >> [music] >> Do you think there's actual cost to not investing to in relationships? >> Yeah, the wrong people will take you out faster than any other decision in your life. >> [music] >> Being with the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time can get you in a get you thrown in jail. >> That's in like a life context. In a business context, the person that's always getting sued, guess what? Give it enough time, you'll be on the receiving end of that. >> The people around you set the invisible ceiling on what feels normal. So, if everyone in your circle thinks 200,000 is crushing it, guess what? 200,000 feels like enough. Most people aren't surrounded by bad people, they're surrounded by limited people. Think about that. I can't think of a better example of that than we were in Dallas at the book meet-up in this awesome warehouse filled with literally millions of dollars of supercars with a bunch of CEOs and high performers who didn't feel limited at that event. There was a 12-year-old boy who came up to me at the very end to ask this cool question. And I know for a fact that being in that circle is going to make him money, not cost him. >> You, young man. You're last. What do you got? Your name? >> Joseph. >> Joseph? >> Uh if we're 12 years old starting from zero, uh what would you focus on for the next 12 months to be able to build a AI company? >> What are you doing here, man? I was not How old are you? >> 12. >> I love that you're here. I appreciate that. 12 years old. Who was in a room like this at 12? Put your hand up. Yeah, I was in the opposite of a room like this at 12. So, the question he asked is if you're 12 years old and you want to be successful, what would you focus on for the next 12 months? The fact that he asked that question is the reason why he's going to win. It's like asking a parent that read a book on being a good parent, is it because of the book or the fact that you wanted to read the book? See what I'm saying? The fact that you asked the question is all I need to know. I'm buying his stock. So, the good news is you're already made it. Pressure's off. If you're trying to optimize it, get around other people like the people in this room. Okay? There's a reason why everybody drove to come here instead of going doing something with their friends or watching a sports game or going to a bar or or just deciding to lay down and scroll. They didn't do that. They showed up for this room. So, the people in this room are self-selecting, being driven, motivated, having vision, wanting to be better. That's rare. Let me say it's super rare. But dude, you're 12. I want you to be so rich every adult in this room wonders why they sat on their hands instead of going all in on it cuz trust me they will. Most people their mind is baked at 27. So if you're above 27, you have to work harder. He's 12, he's perfect the malleable. So dude, get in there be the guy they all turn to for advice and you're going to crush life. Does that make sense? Cool. 3 2 1. Reason number four, it's not who you know, it's who knows you. Networking used to be cold emails, awkward events, picking brains. The truth is that feels like work. It's exhausting. It's slow. You waste a lot of time and it doesn't scale. Networking now is simple. Make content, add value, and relationships and opportunities come to you. The Supercar Warehouse, that's Tactical Fleet in Dallas, Texas. And the reason we were there is because the owner reached out. >> [music] >> So we're flying into Dallas for a speaking thing this guy on Instagram messaged me he's like, "Hey man, I see you're coming to Dallas. Need a drive." And I look at his profile and it's supercar dealership and I'm like, "Uh I'm I think I'm good but what do you got?" He's like, "What do you like?" I said, "I like a Rolls-Royce with a mandarin orange interior with [laughter] the gray I don't know. If you're asking, I've got some thoughts." He goes, "I actually have one of those." I said, "Bet, pick me up at the airport." And he rolled up on the tarmac and that's how I met Chris. Every DM from someone who wants to work with you, that's your platform doing the networking while [music] you sleep. Think about it. Did the effort to post a video that's being seen by 14 million people is it any different than 140? No. You put it out. You didn't chase [music] the next relationship. It came to you not because of who you know, because of [music] who knows you. That's how I ended up with a DM from Rob Dyrdek. >> At the end of every year, I always look at my goals and then I write down relationships that I would love to create that would help the goals. >> Yes. >> And I wrote Rob's name on there, okay? There was several names, but Rob Dyrdek was on there, okay? I don't know Rob. Obviously, I had a few mutual friends, but I wrote his name down. I'm in my office one day and I get a text message. Hey Dan, it's Rob Dyrdek. I'm like, shut up, okay? >> Rob is an impressive guy. If you don't know who he is, he's the founder of Street League Skateboarding and you've probably seen him on TV shows like Fantasy Factory, Ridiculousness, or Wild Grinders. >> Wild Grinders. >> On top of being a twenty-some-time world record holder, he also runs a venture studio where he's building an app called existence.io. >> He goes on. He's like, I read your book and it really helped me with my software. He read Software as a Science. He didn't read By Backer Time. >> No, right. >> And then he said, in that book, you mentioned By Backer Time and I'm a time guy, so then I read that book. And then he reached out he texted me. He goes, I got your number from my friend and uh if you're ever in LA, let me know. I'd love to chat. I shot a video right away. I just like went out Dude, I have a skateboard behind my desk. >> Yeah. >> And I was like, hey Rob, appreciate you reaching out. I used to skate. Like there's my deck. I've never met somebody that lives in vision >> Yeah. >> and refuses to come down to earth. >> It is crazy because like that's how the tables turn. I've known about Rob for two decades and then one day the tables turned because of the content and he reached out to me. So now when I'm in LA, we always get together. He inspires a out of me, man. His brain is awesome. >> Rob, listen. >> [music] >> I'm not going to waste your time, but I want to spend the time with you, but ultimately I >> share the progress from where we were before but not too long like it happened last year. >> I figured I'm sorry to doubt. >> I pulled up that you would >> come all the way out here. >> twice in a month. >> [music] >> And that's what it feels like when you get it right. You lose track of time, you forget dinner, you walk away thinking we need to do that again. [music] That's what happens when the right people find you. But here's where most people stop. They get the connection and they don't invest in it. Real quick, if you're a business owner that wants to scale their business, this year I created a scaling workbook that you can use to get through all six phases of business. If you want it, just message me scale YouTube on Instagram at Dan Martell and I'll send it over to you 100% free. So here's a strategy. Invest in your relationship with time, yes, but put some money behind it. Buy the plane ticket. Show up for the event. Host the dinner. Invite the people. Put yourself out there. >> [music] >> Actively. Intentionally. You got to put people on your goals list because the relationships that will change your life don't maintain themselves. You have to choose them over and over again. Reinvest. Show up. Be there. Nobody has shown me what that looks like better than John Maxwell. >> Yeah, he's my spirit animal. >> Yeah. >> He's the guy I look up to and I say if my life looks a fraction like that person's life, I've won. >> Yeah. That's cool. >> Yeah. >> What is it like speaking [music] on stages like this right now for John? >> Phew. It's wild. It's wild. It's It's actually was hard for me not to get emotional just like >> [music] >> So I went to the event and then after we had the opportunity to catch up. And now I've been working on a new book. And having John in my life has inspired me more than anything. And when I was leaving and he offered to be helpful anyway, he's just like, "Hey Dan, just help me." I wasn't prepared for what he said. >> Hey, how are you? >> How are you doing? >> Really good to see you. >> Thanks for having me, John. Come on, buddy. >> How you doing? >> Wow, my day is just got better. >> My day? >> It's awesome to see you. >> good to see you. >> Thanks for having me. >> Thanks for coming. >> I used to keep relationships almost transactional, right? Surface level, because it was safe. I curated how I showed up, I didn't disclose too much. But when I started showing up, fully showing up as me, and then organizing my own trips, hosting my own dinner, flying across the country just to be in the same room as somebody to celebrate them because I admired them, the quality of relationships and the opportunities that came from showing up that way completely changed. Having John as somebody that I can message and text and ask for life advice, it feels like I'm wearing a cape. It gives me a superpower, because I can be more bold. I can take risks, because I got him as a buddy. >> Yeah, two and a half years and the next book is coming out in January. It's been wild. >> Come on. >> It was the follow-up to Buy Back Your Time. >> on your title. >> I can't tell you what it is, but when I see it, I know it. The book's written, so it's the packaging. So like, I don't know, I just I consider books the most um craft thing I do. >> A book is a picture. It's just a picture. It's just it it And if done right, it's a piece of art. But it's a picture. And it goes I mean, it that's the picture. That's what But it stays with people. And what's amiss is the subtitle almost always is more important than the title. >> Yeah. >> It's the subtitle that draws them in. >> Yeah. You know, I think it was the first conversation I asked you about the 21 Irrefutable Laws and what number book he said it was? Number 13. >> Yeah. >> yeah. It was way >> That was like, "Whoa. Okay." Right. >> Right. Oh, totally. >> Right. >> Really it has to be stored up before it shows up. And what happens is >> Oh, that's good. Some people want to show up and they got nothing stored up. >> And it could and when it shows up without it being down, without it being stored up, everybody says it's not any good. >> It's flat. >> Because you can tell. You can tell. >> There's no lived experience. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And it so it has to have time. >> Some things you just can't plan for. You can't engineer them, you can't time them. They only happen because you take a chance and you invest in a person genuinely, consistently, with no specific outcome in mind. And then one day, that relationship might hand you something you could have never prepared for. For me, that was a simple question. >> John, do you mind if I show you my book before and maybe you could Doc, you could show me. I'd be glad to read I could be glad to. We'll get on the We'll go back. I would do Yes, I'll write it forward for you. I'd be glad to. Man, I'm so proud of what you're doing. Really, you just need All you got to do is ask. No, I'll be glad to do it. >> I the whole time I was writing I was just like >> Oh, I would love to write >> I want to write something that's going to make you proud. >> Oh my gosh, I'd be Yeah. You just let me know what you need. We're We're partners. We We kick around together. I'm serious. I'm so proud of what you're doing, man. >> You know how like every young man wants nothing more than to hear their dad say they're proud of them? >> Yeah. >> That was like times a hundred for me having John offer and wanting to do that. That was That was like I mean I There wasn't a moment I was ever writing a sentence in that book that I didn't think I hope if John ever reads this, I hope he doesn't, but if he does that he's like, "Okay, this isn't shitty." cuz like He's the guy. The fact that he's willing to do that just means the world. >> But I want to tell you something. The book writing. Stay right with it. Because, man, those are markers. Those are markers in your life. And I the more that you [music] put those markers down, it starts to compound in a different way. It really does. >> That's cool. >> I I And you're just doing [music] good. I wish your first book was a lot better than my first book. >> John is my spirit animal. He's written 92 books. He is the goat. He has more energy than most 18-year-olds. He's sharp. He's kind. He's He's He's giving of themself to a fault sometimes. And And I know I can be. Again, it's Everybody's different, but I always thought like before I ever met John, I gave him the power of my opinion. >> I love to see you. I'm like, "Man, anything I can do for you, let me know." >> I love you, man. >> You know, I love you so much. >> John. >> The people that are going to win are the ones that understand that their relationships, who knows them, how they're talked about, their personal brand, being out there is the highest form of leverage. So, if you're down to do this, type people in the comments. Make sure that people is the number one investment you make this year outside of AI. And again, if you want a workbook to scale your business, just message me scale YouTube on Instagram at damonandtell, and I'll send it over. And if you want to learn the systems you need to scale your business that go along with the workbook, click the video, and I'll see you on the other side.