Relationships Are the Real Currency — Jeffrey Meshel Explains Why

Success in business is rarely about what you know alone—it’s about who you know, how you show up, and how consistently you build trust. In this episode of Fried On Business, I sit down with Jeffrey Meshel, founder of Candor Capital Partners, master networker, and author of four books, to explore how relationships become real assets when cultivated intentionally.

Jeffrey shares how networking shaped every stage of his career—from sourcing opportunities to building credibility in competitive rooms. We talk about why most people misunderstand networking, focusing on transactions instead of long-term connection, and how that mindset limits growth. Jeffrey explains his personal framework for building authentic relationships at scale without losing sincerity or burning bridges.

We also discuss how his experience as an author sharpened his thinking on influence, communication, and positioning. Jeffrey walks through how writing books forced him to clarify his ideas, define his principles, and articulate what separates shallow contact from meaningful connection. He explains why generosity, consistency, and follow-through quietly compound over time.

Listeners will learn how disciplined networking creates optionality—new partnerships, capital access, mentorship, and credibility that money alone can’t buy. Jeffrey shares stories from his career that highlight how trust accelerates deals, rescues stalled negotiations, and opens doors that formal credentials never could.

This episode is practical, candid, and immediately useful for entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, and anyone who wants to expand opportunity without compromising integrity. Whether you’re early in your career or building at scale, Jeffrey’s approach reframes networking from a chore into a long-term strategy.

If you believe relationships shape outcomes, this conversation will sharpen how you build yours.

This episode of Fried on Business is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Warren Henry Auto Group.

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Jim Fried has been a real estate business person since 1980 and has had his own radio show since 2009.

Mr. Fried specializes in capitalizing commercial real estate transactions, unearthing urban land opportunities and is also a private lender.

He has been active in the real estate industry for many years as a financial intermediary, broker and investor. He has experience with many property types including, but not limited to: apartments, condominiums, retail centers, office buildings, industrial parks and health care – with a special focus on memory care.

Jim has closed over $3BB in real estate transactions during his career in markets across the eastern US.

Jim uses his communication skills to inform and entertain on his weekly podcast show – Fried on Business. Of course, the show discusses real estate, but he also tackles issues such as branding, sports business, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, public private partnerships as well as health and wellness.

He is also a mentor to many up and coming people in the real estate industry through his membership on the Board of The University of Florida’s Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies.

Mr. Fried is a winner of the Miami-Dade Public School Alumni Achievement Award.

Contact Jim via email at jim@friedonbusiness.com