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• Why “always be closing” is outdated thinking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

Watch The Podcast On Youtube!