Back in the Saddle - Let's Talk About Relationships

It has been some time since I have updated this blog, not for lack of content, but for lack of time and motivation to sit down at a computer...no excuse, but honestly that is what happened. I blame it on Mexico, but really it has been a summer that blew by so quickly I hardly knew it was here.

So today I hope to catch up on some sort of blog schedule and here is my attempt. I understand it is not Monday, but let's pretend...

Let's talk about Relationship Building. It is something that is essential to every one and, to a business or nonprofit, it is one of the most important steps to achieving success. You cannot get anywhere these days without the relationships you have established and the relationships you are working on developing. 

Relationships take work, maintenance, care, time, equality, and when you put all these qualities together you can work wonders and make millions whether it be cash OR perhaps more importantly, lasting support.

Were you in the business and/or nonprofit world when the market crashed, say 2008? Do you remember how business and donations dropped significantly? How did you react?

One of the most important points I learned going from a high economy to a devastated one, was that the relationships were the only thing left. Regardless of goals, income or growth, relationships were the only thing to measure. Which leads me to a complete self-discovery, I already knew that to get someone to donate and support they had to have some sort of connection, but before the crash "connection" was a loosely used term. Anyone, big or small could support monetarily with a woven "connection." However, after the crash, "connection" and "relationship" became the most goals. These could no longer be worked, these had to be real. And, though monetary support was the ultimate goal I knew that $10 from someone who had been involved for years and was going to continue to be involved even more so was worth more than $100,000 in the long run.

PS, taking time to build relationships with partners, business colleagues, clients, supporters and competiors, donors, etc should not be seen as a chore, but as a way to grow as a business, nonprofit, person.

You see, when people give their time, have a strong connection, and you have built that relationship with the person, not the money, eventually everything meets your goals.

Relationships are the key. These have to be true, engaged, personal, committed relationships. So that when you go to ask for support, any support, it is not something you have to "ask" for you already know it is there. 

How have your Relationships grown?