Rich Relationships

It’s not about the grades you make as much as it is about the hands you shake. This statement is not meant to insinuate that education and knowledge is not important – it is. What’s even more important for living the life you want is making connections and nurturing relationships.

How many times have you known someone who always seems to be at the right place at the right time to get what they want – whether it be a personal relationship, a deal, a job, or even a promotion? That doesn’t happen as much by timing as it does because of a prior relationship that raised them to the top of the “consideration pool.” At the age of 16, I was introduced to the powerful book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, and it forever impacted my life for the better. Even before that book hit my hands, both my dad and my grandfather taught, demonstrated, and lived out how to live happy, to serve others, and to cultivate strong life-long relationships. That’s a strong legacy, and one that I’m blessed to have received. Both of these impacted me and have shaped my life and my career.

I can remember meeting my first neighborhood friend at the age of four on the new street I had moved to recently. His bicycle had a flat tire, and I immediately offered to lend a hand to fix it, explaining that our family owned a service station and that my grandfather would be glad to help. How about you? Are you someone with a lifetime of strong, powerful, fulfilling, and even enjoyable relationships? Have you ever really even given intentional thought to all the types of relationships you actually have in your life? Personally, do you want your spouse (if you are married) to know your love and know you desire to be the most incredible partner to and with them, while still being yourself? Are you the absolute biggest fan of your kids’ successes?

Professionally, do you want to have winning customers/clients who rave about you and refer others to you? Do you want to be able to lead your team, department or whole organization where your people admire your discipline, thinking and the positive impact you've had on their lives? If this intrigues you, and hopefully it does, then this book is for you. I hope this book will open your eyes, expand your thinking, and help you and the people in your life win more, win bigger, and win with even more success.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Why Relationships?

Most Common Types

Components to Relationship Success

Seven Things You Can Do to Strategically and Positively Impact and Grow Your Relationships

Ensure All Stakeholders Win

Understand What Others Want

Manage Expectations

Do Favors in Advance

Leverage Personality Styles

Identify Your People of Influence (POI)