SHS036: How Freelancers Can Network At Events & Build Meaningful Connections With Gregory Rutledge
Intro
As we continue Season 2 of The Side Hustler’s Society Podcast, one thing has become clear:
👉 Lead generation isn’t just about tactics
👉 It’s about relationships
Because in real life…
👉 Most sales don’t happen instantly
👉 They happen over time through connection
In this episode, Elijah Bilel sits down with someone he describes as a “super connector”—someone who knows how to build relationships quickly and turn those relationships into real opportunities.
Intro to Gregory Rutledge (G Wiz)
Gregory Rutledge, also known as G Wiz, is a high-performance coach and empowerment strategist
Founder of the Question Everything brand
Helps coaches, creators, and professionals unlock hidden potential through deep questioning and strategy
Has a background in UX design, entrepreneurship, and systems thinking
Known for his ability to build relationships quickly and connect people at a high level
👉 Check out his book Here
Episode Overview
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The difference between hard sales and soft sales
Why networking is one of the most powerful lead generation tools
How to build relationships that turn into opportunities
Why “always be closing” is outdated thinking
A better approach to sales that actually works
Listen to the Episode
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Side Hustler’s Society Resources
The Personalized Side Hustle Starter Kit
The Anatomy Of Financial Success Paperback
Networking Is Lead Generation (Whether You Realize It or Not)
One of the biggest insights from this episode:
👉 You’re always networking
Every day you meet:
Friends
Associates
Contacts
The only difference?
👉 Some people do it intentionally
And when you do…
👉 It becomes a lead generation tool
Hard Sales vs Soft Sales
Most people think sales looks like this:
Pitch → Yes or No
That’s hard sales
But in reality?
👉 Most of life is soft sales
This looks like:
Meeting someone
Building a relationship
Creating trust
Opportunities happening later
Sometimes:
Immediately
Months later
Through referrals
Why Most People Get Sales Wrong
A major point Gregory makes:
👉 Sales is not about you
If it is…
👉 You’re trying to convince people
But real sales?
👉 Is about helping people make decisions
You’re guiding them toward:
A solution
A result
A better outcome
Whether that’s with you…
👉 Or someone else
The Better Way to Sell: Serve First
Instead of:
👉 “Always be closing”
The better approach is:
👉 “Always be caring”
This shift changes everything.
Because now:
You listen more
You understand problems
You offer real solutions
And sometimes:
👉 That solution isn’t even you
Why This Approach Actually Works
When you focus on helping:
People trust you faster
You stand out immediately
Opportunities come naturally
As discussed in the episode:
👉 The “universe keeps track”
Meaning:
You help enough people
You create enough value
👉 Opportunities come back to you
Sometimes from unexpected places
If you want to get better at building real connections like this, you can go deeper into these skills on Elijah’s Social Dynamics YouTube channel Here
This is where Elijah breaks down:
Social skills
Communication
Confidence
Real-world interaction strategies
Soft Offers vs Hard Offers
Gregory breaks this down clearly:
Hard Offer
Direct pitch
Immediate decision
Soft Offer
Build relationship first
Understand the problem
Position a solution naturally
👉 This is where most real business happens
The Power of Asking Questions
One of Gregory’s biggest strengths:
👉 Asking the right questions
Because when you ask enough questions:
Confusion disappears
The real problem becomes clear
The solution becomes obvious
Most people don’t do this because:
They’re afraid of asking too much
They don’t want to “bother” people
They fear looking inexperienced
But in reality:
👉 Questions build trust
Why Social Skills Are the Real Advantage
This episode connects directly to something we’ve been building on:
👉 Social skills = income
Because networking isn’t just:
Meeting people
It’s:
Building rapport
Understanding people
Creating real connections
If you want to improve:
Your conversations
Your confidence
Your ability to connect
👉 You can learn more on Elijah’s Social Dynamics YouTube channel Here
The Long-Term Effect of Serving People
A powerful analogy shared:
👉 Think of it like working for tips
Some people:
Don’t tip
Tip low
Others:
Tip high
Make up for everything
But overall?
👉 It balances out
And over time:
👉 You win
The same applies to:
Networking
Helping people
Building relationships
Final Thoughts
Elijah Bilel and Gregory Rutledge make one thing clear:
👉 Sales isn’t about pushing
It’s about:
Connecting
Understanding
Serving
And when you do that consistently…
👉 Opportunities follow