Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts

Even before I became an entrepreneur, I always wanted to be a connector. To me, it made total sense: Tim has a problem, Tom knows how to solve it. Put the two together and both are happy.

I never realized the power of a person's network until my business mentor, we'll call him John, was fired... for the fifth and final times. He was the head of sales of a franchise, had a small amount of ownership, and was going to buy out the business in the next year. The owner wanted John to become the head of production without giving a pay raise. John refused. The owner fired him hoping he'd come back to his job and take something rather than nothing. John refused. Even though he had no idea what he was going to do, just had his 6th child, he refused to take this type of crap again.

He went to the next business network group he attended weekly. He told me and a few other friends, mainly just letting us know what happened. He received 5 jobs offers that week.

Whether you are in business or just looking for a job, it's of great value to have a strong and vibrant network. Jayson's book gives some great tools to start enhancing your network through Mastermind Dinners. Though you may not have heard of him before, Jayson has put on entrepreneur events with great speakers like Tim Ferriss, Guy Kawasaki, Marc Ecko, Dan Martell, James Altucher, and Ryan Holiday. Jayson gives a great inside glimpse on how you can start doing your own dinners to build your relationships with those around you.
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As each person has a different review "system," I do want future readers to know that I consume a lot of books, articles, blogs, and podcasts. Personally, in my mental ranking system, I reserve 5 star reviews for things in life that make the top 5%. Very difficult to be done by smaller books like this. Books like the Bible, Good to Great, Crossing the Chasm, and Ultimate Sales Machine fall into this category.

A 4 star is a book I believe is well worth reading for just about everyone wanting to make a difference in their life and I'll recommend to others. Of course, if you'd rather be status quo, no need to spend the money here. Otherwise the value of this book far exceeds the small price to pay to get Jayson's best information.

Recommending great resources is another great way to build up the value to your network. So read this book, then think of a friend to pass this along to. It's great enough that I'm going to recommend this to a friend after I finish writing this review.

I met Jayson at one of his Mastermind Dinner events (not just the dinners but the conferences he runs once a year or so) because he invited my husband James to speak.

Right from the beginning I was impressed with Jayson because he sent ME, (i.e.: not the speaker, but rather his wife) a personalized video message of welcome. I did not know those (video messages) even existed, and of course, he talks about them in the book. He made me feel welcome and important.

I am not the only one. in the book,he gives other examples and even links to personal videos he has sent to people one-on-one and tells of how successful they are.

Even though I knew this was something special as we were driving to Toronto, still, I thought the gathering was going to be one of those boring meetings, but it was not. I was surprised at how well organized Jayson was. Nobody was siting in a corner on the back, everybody was engaged.

In the book he tells you why he speaks to each person he invites to his events, individually, all four thousand + of them.

And he also tells you how he puts together dinners so that they work, so that people speak to each other, so that we all seemingly have things to talk about, as if by coincidence, but there is no such thing. Jayson prepares forever before inviting or even sending an email.

I was in his dinner in New York, and could see as I was reading the book how every detail counts. Not only that but I learned of other ways in which he organizes events so that they are entretaining and they get people to connect and do greater things together, with him being the connector.

For example, he gives prompts, so that in a meeting people can "complete a sentence" and then, as they go around the table they get to know one another, fun! One example I love is when he has them complete: "I loose track of time when..."

He also talks about how to pay for a dinner, which is an important detail, and even though he pays for the ones he organizes himself (very generous), he offers alternatives for people who would like to make an income from these or people who would like to make it fun (credit card pile had me laughing and scared at the same time, that is towards the end of the book)

I read the book in about one hour and I have so many ideas now I want to plan a dinner myself, but I do realize there is a lot more to doing these events right and I had no idea, thanks Jayson for writing the book.

Mastermind Dinners are a great way to increase your influence. I've heard of this strategy being used by people like Andrew Warner of Mixergy, Noah Kagan of AppSumo and Tim Ferriss (4 Hour Books).

In fact there is (was?) a startup just for these types of dinners called Grub With Us. Point being, this is a 3rd party validated, book worthy topic!

Nobody has written a how to guide for doing these networking dinners, until now.

Jayson's "Mastermind Talks" event was one of the best I've ever attended, so when I heard this book was coming out I figured it would deliver.

This isn't just a book for entrepreneurs in startups, or tech entrepreneurs - this is an applicable strategy for anyone in any industry where being "known" and connecting with others is beneficial to you.

IE - I'm in the film industry, and afaik there are no other filmmakers doing mastermind dinners, I am excited to start connecting with other filmmakers using the strategies Jayson lays out in the book.

Whether you're a photographer, musician, non profit exec, dragon trainer or professional grape peeler, this book should help you.

The fact that there is an audio version is a nice bonus as well.

I learned of Mastermind Dinners through word of mouth and knew immediately that it was something I wanted to get better at - and attend one of the author's dinners. And then I had forgotten all about it, my nose was back into the busyness of work. It wasn't until I assessed my 2014 that it became apparent to me how lacking I had been at cultivating new relationships. It was as if my year was not successful at all. I was moving into a new industry this year working for myself and many of my contacts were incapable of assisting me, and I was now out of the loop and not as helpful as I once was for them. My "One Thing" for 2015 was to build new relationships. I needed and wanted to get back out there and connect with people instead of living behind a computer.

This book fell into my lap (via Kindle) a week before the New Year and I just stared at it. The book is laid out from mindset to the goodnight and thank you. Even if you don't use what Gaignard lays out in the book for business, the principles therein are applicable to friends and family as well. If you'd love to have friends over, but are unsure "how" to have friends over - get the book.

Connection is apart of living an epic life. Go get connected.
This book will give you the tools to do so.

This book contains a simple yet very powerful strategy for connecting at a new level with people you have always wanted to connect with and never known how. It is an easy read, broken down into short chapters of key bit size information and summaries. As a life long connector of others I don't know why I haven't done this before myself. I am now rereading the book to develop my own action plan to bring the suggested strategies to life and grow my own mastermind programs. Thank you Jayson Gaignard for the fresh insights. Highly recommended for those who want to grow their influence and connections in a deep and meaningful way.

Mastermind is a very appropriate title as Jayson covers so much in so few pages. This is a networking magician telling his best tricks, or rather, revealing the simple considerations to letting yourself be as open, honest and real as he is. I have trouble believing he isn't a wise old man who's been doing this for decades.

"Oftentimes in 'networking' settings, it's a game of posturing and surface level BS." If you're tired of that game with the same results, read this now and begin anew in an hour.

CONS: I think there might be a few commas missing.

And while I made more highlights in this short book than any of 500+ pages, my most favorite ended the read with a smile...
"I'm a firm believer that you should judge a man by the radiance of his woman, and I am committed to keep her lit up as long as I can."

Gaignard has written a book that should be in the library of anyone that values their network. He begins with a brief self-history before revealing the deeper secrets, delivering wisdom in pages that waste no words, and writing in a style similar to the way he speaks on his Mastermind Talks Podcast-- clear and to the point, but from a vulnerable and authentic position. Fans of the show will find some familiar territory in the beginning, but the rest of the book expands upon the subject most near and dear to his heart: the power of networking and the required work of a superconnector.

The way Stephen Pressfield presents axioms for finding inspiration and getting work done in short, concise passages, Jayson Gaignard has done something similar for those that see the true value in connecting high-quality people together for dinners that have the potential to change lives and elevate the businesses of all involved. Even those people that have no interest in attempting to host dinners for millionaire entrepreneurs can find much advice here on how to reinvigorate neglected relationships, or deepen bonds with loved ones and friends by presenting unique and eclectic dining experiences.

Should you host dinners for 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8+ people? Should you host at home, or find a choice venue? Do you cold call entrepreneurs in the area or develop individual relationships first? And how do you get in touch with those elusive, almost mythical, high-profile people? Gaignard covers it all, and more, in the time it takes to get in a good gym workout. If you're tired of the same old dinner conversations then this is the book for you.

This book is exactly that...a bar of gold, however its up to you if you choose to accept it or not. Jayson does an amazing job at taking years of work, research, and experience and putting into this short, well thought out book. There is an endless number of books on networking, but few give such a specific action plan and make it impossible to fail like this book does. He takes the most important things you need to know about how to drastically increase your network and circle of influence, all while helping others do the same.

No matter what your goals in life or business are there is nothing that will get you there faster than expanding your network and adding value to other like minded people.

I can't wait to share pictures of my first Mastermind Dinner! Thank you Jayson!!!

p.s. If anyone is ever in Denver and would like to host or attend a dinner send me a message!

Jayson presents an incredibly compelling case for being authentic, taking risk and thinking big when it come to developing relationships. The concepts that Jayson presents are ones that I've been kicking around for years. But Jayson has taken the time and attention to dig into the nitty-gritty detail of every aspects of reaching out, connecting with and maintaining meaningful relationships with people he wants in his circle. And he's laid it all out for us to replicate. I'm insanely inspired and grateful for this book. While only Jayson can do what he uniquely does so well, I feel like he's written a blue print that I can adapt to my unique ability to make work for me. Thank you, Jayson!

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." Jayson Gaignard's amazing book on a mindset of abundance, investing in yourself and your relationships, keeping your trust and word always, being honest and delivering value (no buzzword marketing needed and attracting right clients) and outright courage and confidence is A MUST READ for anyone looking to grow into a better version of themselves..... I highly recommend!!! Thank you Jayson for the amazing inspirational book full of wisdom and strategies! Such an honor meeting you this year and looking forward to supporting the concept of local masterminds within my own community.

If you have a passion for genuine networking this is a must-have! I was impressed by the amount of specific 'how-to' systems, as well as a solid foundation of a successful, authentic, and powerful network.

If net-worth equals network, then this book is the ultimate investment.
This is not a book on hacks and tactics, but rather a professional system based on first-hand experience with some amazingly high profile people.This book will be definitely kept close at hand as a reference.

I also personally enjoyed the positive tone behind the book and the obvious passion behind it.

I had the privilege of hearing Jayson speak at an event in Vegas, and he was so dynamic on stage that I had very high expectations for his book. I'm happy to say he over delivered. Jayson gives enough of his story to be credible, and then he does a fantastic job of taking you inside his thinking, his action steps, and the payoff both have had. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to grow a tribe by building true, mutually beneficial, in person relationships. I walked away with half a dozen ideas I can't wait to implement.

Seth Godin famously outlined the four ways to get ahead in the new economy where connections are everything:
- Coordination – Someone needs to arrange to arrange the connections so they are meaningful.
- Trust – When you are at work and everyone is going in the same direction, that enables you to find ways to connect and create value.
-Permission – When you offer ideas to people who want you to bring them, that’s a resource. Without that permission, it’s an annoyance. What’s new and significant is that the permission needs to be earned and not asked for.
-The exchange of ideas – you will learn more from people at a conference than from any random person you might otherwise meet because you’re deliberately exchanging ideas. It’s the confluence of time, place and purpose that gives significance to that exchange of ideas.

This book is the roadmap to getting these things right the first time, with authenticity. Jayson has mastered the art of hosting gruop dinners and if you are interested in forming meaningful connections, read this book.

Being a entrepreneur is tough... but building honest relationships with the key people who will endorse what you do and become the evangelist-behind-your-back is far tougher.

Jayson's book recaps his real life experience with building a network of people and gives you not just the why, but also the how.

What I like about Jayson's book:
- It's short and to the point. He could have stretched the same concepts into a brick but instead keeps it on topic.
- Great practical tips about how to get people to your events in the 'Reaching the Unreachable' chapter.
- His writing style is simple, easy to read and does not try to overly impress.

Overall a great little book and I look forward to implanting these concepts in my own business.

The concept of bringing like minded people together to break bread and share ideas has been the most impactful thing to happen in my life. When I first moved to San Francisco to start a tech company I didn't know one person. After a few months I co-created a dinner series called Finance for Founders. We held 8 dinners over a 12 month people with 100+ entrepreneurs each.

That changed my personal and business life.

This book will show you how to do this. Jayson and I met (indirectly) from one of his dinners. He met some mutual friends and reached out to me. I pinged them to verify he was the real deal, and 2 years later I consider Jayson one of my very good friends.

I got the book a couple days ago and I'm blow away by the detail and thoughtfulness he put into it.

Reading this book - and implementing his strategies - is probably the biggest thing you can do to move your dreams and goals forward in 2015.

This book was very obviously written by an entrepreneur that has been through the real trials and glory of entrepreneurship, and has found a very unique and passionate direction around people.
Inside, he details the true realities of entrepreneurship, and puts clear words behind forging meaningful relationships - starting with a well thought out dinner.

Jayson has a great story, as is one of the most authentic and transparent entrepreneurs I know. What he offers in this book is priceless. He's a giver, and the value in this book, if used, carries further value in orders of magnitude.
He lifts the curtain on everything that he has done to find massive success in establishing connections and relationships.

This is the book on building authentic relationships within your network.

Your network truly is your net worth.

Gathering over food with our peers (or those we aspire to be our peers) is an ancient and doubling nourishing practice. To uncover our purpose, set a conscious intention, craft a plan, research and attract participants, and bring them together could be a chemistry experiment with unpredictable results. Fortunately, Jayson has stepped up to guide us through the process. Jayson has crammed a lot of life per minute into his short one. And he clearly and genuinely lays out his roses and thorns, his capital L loser-hood and his mastery, in a banquet of lessons for our benefit. I like this book. A lot. In the last 4 hours, between appointments, I've read it through and also listened to the audiobook. This is a valuable companion to my master plan for the brand spanking new year! I now see every dinner party I host as a chance to be an impresario and create amazing results for all. And that's what counts, as an entrepreneur, businessperson, employee or anyone who wants to be a connector and improver.

I can't recommend this book highly enough! Most entrepreneurs intuitively understand the importance of networking, but it wasn't until I started applying what Jayson taught me over a year ago that I truly unlocked the power of creating meaningful connections with others. Whether it's getting plugged into the right contact (Tom knows someone who can help solve Tim's problem, you connect the 2 of them), affirmation (I look up to Tom and here I see he struggles with the same things I do), or learning something new from smart people in the room, spending some time attending, or better yet organizing, these dinners can be transformational on your personal and business life.

Now Jayson has created a playbook that tells you exactly how to start creating these meaningful connections yourself, I really hope you take the time to buy, read, and apply this book. I think it'll be one of the highest ROI decisions you'll make!

This is a short but very powerful and impactful book! I listened to the audio version (only about 70 minutes long), and WOW.... there is no fluff, just Jayson calling it how it is and sharing what has worked for him in building relationships with people. I saw him speak at an event in October 2015 and was inspired by his message, his book does no less. I will be implementing my first mastermind dinner very soon, just curating my list of people that I want to get together!

If you want to grow your network (which is your true net worth) then spend the hour listening to, or reading this book, you won't have wasted your time!

I learned about Jayson Gaignard from listening to him being interviewed on a podcast about 6 months ago. I listen to lots of his interviews on his podcasts and I have to say he outdid himself on this book. Its so powerful and simple at same time. I know exactly what needs to get done to have a successful mastermind dinner and honestly how to really deepen relationships and networks of people.
Its an easy read with a lot of action steps!

Insightful, and 100% real and honest. Reading this book gives inspiration as well as tactics to investing in the worlds most powerful currency: relationships. This book tells the story of how investing in your relationships brings the real wealth and true success that each one of us craves in our depths, and inverts the notion that having financial prosperity is the answer, when it is merely the result of true success. Thanks a Million for publishing this.

This is an outstanding book written in a personable style. It is like you are looking over the shoulder of the author as he describes how he creates dinners where food is not the main course. He selects the guests with great care and sometimes provides seating arrangements so that the exchange of ideas is stimulating. That often leaves the guests wanting to see more of each other, possibly sparking master mind meetings. If you want to form a first class master mind group, this could be an excellent primer for you.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone that is in any way interested in growing their business. My CEO gave me a reading list and this book is a highlight from it. Grow your networks and provide value to those in it by simply bringing people together. With some planning and gumption you will find yourself surrounded by people who know more about things you need to learn. If an army marches on its stomach, then this book will help you build legions.

Jason has created a practical guide for building successful relationships. I'm a firm believer in the idea that your network is your net worth, I only wish there would have been additional advice for people who don't necessarily live in an area that is highly populated with successful people. NYC, Napa, Chicago, are all places where you would expect successful people to live, but what about in places where they're not so common? Regardless it was very well written, and I look forward to applying some of the ideas into my own relationship building efforts. The 9 word email was my favorite bit of advice out of the whole book! Definitely worth a read, only took about an hour to get through.

The book is excellent with lots of creative ideas on how to build your own powerful network. It's not merely about how to host so-called mastermind dinners. More importantly, it teaches several crucial mindsets that will change the way you look at your relationship building activities. What I like about the author's approach is that he's not really interested in traditional "networking", he's a people-person and for him relationship building is really about the other person and their needs. Great job, highly recommended!

Investing in relationships is one of my favorite and most impactful ways to stretch my mind, open my heart and grow my business. I'm learning great things from Jayson in the book. An incredible read that will leave you full with ideas to build relationships that will change your business and improve the quality of your life.

This book has been incredible in helping me grow my relationships with my friends and network. Not only only is it a how to but also a fantastic insight on giving value in relationships and building deeper connections over food.

Amazing Amazing Amazing!!!! Everything Jayson gives away in his book describes the keys to building lifelong relationships! I know this because I had the pleasure of attending one of Jayson's dinners, with literally no idea of what to expect. What ended up happening, was life changing and it's a dinner, I will never forget! To this day I keep in close contact with many of the individuals whom we met as strangers and left as friends.

Get away from the traditional networking events and start working on unconventional methods that start producing awesome results. MasterMind Dinners is that unconventional methods to your success for 2015!

Jayson is one of those people that consistently delivers more than ever expected. He's done it again with this amazing how-to book on building lifelong relationships that matter. In a world of light and meaningless conversation, Jayson shows you how to dive deep with the people who matter most in your life and business. If you want to create impact in the world you'll need a group of people you're willing to jump off cliffs for and they for you, this book is your essential guide.

It takes a deep commitment to knowing and understanding the human condition to write a book like this. The tactics described come from knowing who your audience is and being detailed in how to approach your work. Jayson truly understands what it takes for people to feel special by leveraging his "Introverted" reflections. Not only will you come away with being able to plan and execute a great intimate event, but you'll also have a way to reach out to people in your desired relationships to create some thing memorable... Well beyond just dinners.

Jayson is a class act, and this book is consistent with this well deserved branding. Jayson provides an actionable approach to anyone who is serious about approaching relationships in a value based way. The way it should be.

Thanks Jayson, and consider this my highest recommendation!

Just finished reading Mastermind Dinners and all I have to say is: Outstanding! In Mastermind Dinners, Jayson “unpacks” all the traditional “noisy” and kluged information on building personal networking and long term relationships into a condensed, understandable and actionable “manual”.
From learning how to find dinner guest to pre and post dinner communication, you will walk away with an “I can do this too” feeling. If you’re looking to increase your social intelligence and build lasting, mutually beneficial, relationships-- there’s no better mentor then Jayson and this is his “Blueprint”.

I met Jayson recently and we had a great conversation. I'm grateful our paths crossed. I've always considered myself a great networker, but this book opened my eyes to what's really possible given the tools of our time. Over the years I've thought of doing something similar to mastermind dinners, but never followed through. This book is a blueprint for gathering brilliant people together, and when brilliants minds gather, great things happen. Thanks for making this book happen Jayson.

If you are beginning your career or feel like you are in a rut with your networking, read this book. I like the approach of having smaller gatherings where I can really get to know someone as opposed to having a wide and superficial group of connections. Good read.

It is amazing that someone would share some of their best tools, tactics and strategies.... call them what you will... But that is exactly what Jayson Gaignard has done with this book.
It is a quick read and extremely interesting.
Anyone interested in furthering their business should read it. Actually anyone interested in people should probably read it. It has so many purposes.
For $5?! It is going to repay you an untold amount of value.
If there were 6 stars I'd want to give it 7!

When Jayson comes out with something I drop everything and consume it.

If you want to form lifelong relationships with like minded positive individuals then consume everything Jayson says and does. He walks the talk and is the perfect person to guide anyone in forming lifelong relationships with the top people on the planet.

Thanks Jayson for sharing your formula and creating this great book that is jam packed with content with no fluff

Some people talk about investing in relationships, but Jayson's insight takes it to a whole new level -- and makes it super-practical. Jayson is the master of getting amazing people get together in the same room so that magic can have space to happen. It's a short read, but he also holds nothing back. This concise and accessible guide reveals his secrets so that anyone discover, nurture and amplify the true power relationships have to transform your life.

Jayson has condensed an amazing amount of useful, practical, actionable and insightful information into this must read book.
A step-by-step plan to entrepreneurial relationship building - Jayson is living proof that your network is your net worth.
To truly be part of the connected economy, we all need to support and gain from each other - so stop collecting and start connecting!
After reading this book, I really feel I can do this - looking forward to getting into my uncomfort zone and making things happen :)

I first heard of Jayson from the Entrepreneur on Fire Podcast and have followed him on through to his Mastermind Talks Podcast, Community , and membership. This guy gets it! He understands that relationships are not transactional and he shows through this book that's it's possible for anyone to expand their network and make "Real" connections. I found myself not only taking notes, but tweeting some of the AHA-moments discovered. Purchase now, you won't be disappointed.

The Mastermind Dinners was an awesome read. As business professionals your network is definitely your Net-Worth. The book provides clear examples on how to forge relationships through dinners. The simple yet effective techniques he provides to connect and follow up were worth the value because so many entrepreneurs whether newbies or seasoned individuals get it wrong. If you looking for an intimate way to establish lasting relationships you will love this quick read to help you look like a superstar and become an awesome connector.

Great,real-world advice from someone who makes powerful connections happen. Creativity is putting things together and it is genius to create new relationships through these events that can change lives.

I found about Jayson through his podcast: "MastermindTalks" and remains one of my favorites podcasts.
Jayson is full of great advice and listening to him is really inspiring while entertaining, he has a great story to tell and his archievements are impressive.

I recommend you first listening to him in the podcast.
Then if you are interested in starting your own Mastermind Dinners then get the book, you'll get all his advice for starting it in a useful manual.