Monetize Monday – we say here at Wealth And Abundance Today that Monetizing is not always considered revenue.  Everyone gains from relationships built and bonds made and friendships created – we love to count that as our assets in life.  How are you doing really getting to know your clientele? Not only on Mondays do we start our week by following up on invoices or finishing up proposals to generate revenue for our business, we also take time to ring in the week making friends and following up on those we have not spoken to in some time.  We like to see what they are doing now or send them a smile – we love using the tool SendOutCards and now that they have come out with a “user” package for people in makes it super simple for others to use this terrific tool as well!

To get started this week we challenge you to meet 3 new people and follow up with them starting to build new relationships– you can meet these people online, in a networking environment, or even out running errands.  Start out by getting to know them!  Maybe this is someone you have seen around many times before – commenting on someone else social media updates, or a dynamic business person you felt you could reach out to or someone who was always in the same place you were around town – the point is to finally make contact and begin to build a relationship.

Relationships start slow…

As a business owner you know how to network – but do you really get in there for the relationship investment?  Do you set yourself up to be in locations where you can build relationships?  Building relationships takes time and should start slow – first part is making contact.  Don’t let anyone intimidate you into NOT meeting them.  OK so most people don’t intimidate us – we get intimidated by who or what they are – Go For It!  They are people doing business and would love to meet you too!  You have a lot to offer people.

Start slow – say HI and find out what you can about them.  You don’t have to talk about your business right off the get go.  Hint – if this is a person that is active in your community or is high visibility and you know ahead of time they are going to be where you are, do a little research about them so you can ask them questions about stuff going on with them.  IF you have a smart phone and you just saw them at an event – excuse yourself to go outside or in the restroom and do a quick search – people are impressed if you take a bit of time to know about them prior to meeting them – you put in an effort.

Relationships are built one floor at a time…

Relationships are like life structures – you start with the foundation which was your hello and first encounter – then follow it up with great building materials!  Strong follow up!  Again using a tool like SendOutCards is great because it can be a private heart felt message regarding your meeting and some key points about getting to know them more.  You also have the opportunity to send them a small gift or use it as a personal invite for coffee.  There are several tools you can use to make your second contact – I just recommend not using email to follow up in a meaningful manner – everyone in business today has an overflowing inbox and not only can your message get lost or sent to spam it can also be “more work” for that person.  (if it has to be email first – use Video Email, it is a lot more personal)  Following up right after you meet with a heart felt message will build the ground floor of your relationship.  Then you move on to building your relationship structure as high and with as many floors as you wish it to have – with each floor being built with investments from you.  How many “sound structures” can you build without investments? NONE and relationships REAL relationships are no different.

Relationships are meaningful and should be a way of not only doing business but a way of life!

Build Strong Relationships With Others!

Relationships benefit everyone involved.  When you get to know someone and invest in them, you get to know what their business needs are or who they might like to get to know.  You can help them as a friend create relationships they had been needing or looking for.  You might say – everything you are saying here is ME doing the work, ME building the relationship – what are they doing.  In all honesty it does not matter what they are doing – if this is a relationship you wanted to make you are doing something that was important to you…. but it usually works this way.  People who are in a “relationship” tend to look out for each other.  The relationship is a mutual benefit to you both.  The key is to never go into a relationship with the mindset of what YOU are going to get out of knowing this person or being seen with this person.  A true relationship is one of no expectation.

Is a certain Relationship a great investment?

When creating relationships, you do want to make sure you are not allowing yourself to be walked all over or used as a doormat. In the prior paragraph we mention not to have expectations from a relationship, while that is true, you do need to evaluate the person you are building this relationship structure with and be sure they are building with integrity.  They might not be sending referrals your way or making connections with people you would like to get to know – BUT are they building from a place of genuineness?  If this is a person that turns you down for coffee but then calls you for an introduction or a “favor” one too many times that person might not be “sound structure” material and not someone you want to invest a lot of relationship building materials in.  Your relationship structure may be only 3 floors high BUT other people you meet and build relationship structures with might be 10+ floors high – do protect yourself from being taken advantage of.

Business Relationships…

Taking the time to get to know people and build relationships is the best part of business.  We spend so much of our time working, why not do it with friends?  Be a good person a caring person in the relationship and if the other person is wanting the same they will reciprocate the efforts!  Enjoy getting to know people and investing in their growth and success it is returned to you 10 fold!