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The Future of Leadership with Ed Brenegar · Jul 27, 2026

Three Networking Questions

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Ed Brenegar · The Future of Leadership with Ed Brenegar

The Eddy Network Podcast was founded on the principle of Networking Through Introductions. I recently wrote about this as The Power of an Introduction: The Eddy Network Podcast Demonstrates How To Scale Networks of Relationships.

This about our Network of Networks powered by our Network of Relationships.

This is why attracting persons of impact into our networks is essential.

Much of what I’ve learned comes from Ron Burt and Albert-László Barabási. Specifically, I see that scaling our networks is where we find our capacity to make a difference that matters. Unfortunately, much of the network conversation is about how to develop networks that are primarily self-serving.

The Eddy Network Podcast, I believe, demonstrates how to extend our impact beyond the reach of our hands. I’m talking about extending our reach to the extremities of our networks.

Watch this short video where I describe this project.

I begin this project with Three Questions for you about your networks.

1. How many people do you estimate are in your network?

I’m not looking for a precise number. I am not looking for a specific kind of network. I am only interested in what you see as your network. That is the starting point.

2. How many degrees of your network have you accessed in the past year?

Look at this diagram.

The Orange relationships are first-degree. They are your closest friends and associates.

The Green relationships are second-degree. They are relationships considered weak-ties (Granovetter).

The Gray relationships are potential third-degree.

3. If you could change one thing about the way your network functions, what would it be?

I am interested in working with people on this specific question.

I am convinced that the structure of the world does two things.

It talks a big game about changing the world.

It doesn’t use network theory to scale impact effectively.

The purpose of my Circle of Impact leadership work is to encourage and equip people to take personal initiative to create impact that makes a difference that matters.

The goal is to move 1% of the world’s population to take personal initiative to create impact in their local communities.

Our networks don’t exist to serve us. They exist for us to serve people, organizations, and communities.

Let’s look at the numbers based on The Eddy Network Podcast guest list.

  • The Eddy - 1

  • Guest List - 300

  • Second-degree networks - 45,000 (300x150)

  • Third-degree networks - 6,750,000 (45,000 x 150)

  • Fourth-degree networks - 1,012,500,000 (6.75 million x 150)

  • 1% impact = 80,000,000

  • 10% impact = 800,000,000

Of course, there are many reasons why none of this makes sense.

I view those as excuses, not reasons.

If you were to invest your life in making a difference just to your immediate network, the flow-over to second-degree networks would be tangible.

  • 1% of 300 = 3 people

  • 3 people reach 1% of 150 = 1.5 people

  • 10% of 300 - 30 people

  • 50% of 300 - 150 people

As you can see, scaling our networks makes more sense than not.

Growing our networks makes more sense than not growing them.

Seeking to impact the extremities of our network of networks makes sense.

1. How many people do you estimate are in your network?

2. How many degrees of your network have you accessed in the past year?

3. If you could change one thing about the way your network functions, what would it be?

Thank you.

Read the original on edbrenegar.substack.com

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