We have unlimited potential through strong relationships.
There have been countless times in my life that I can refer to where someone I know has extended great opportunities for me. They weren’t always opportunities of monetary gain, but they were usually greater than money could ever offer. My current job was connected to me through a teacher I stayed connected with and I always shared my latest works. I made a documentary about the homeless community in Madison, WI because of a strong friendship I had with a friend that offered the idea to me, but didn’t have the means to do it himself. I have been fortunate enough to work on multiple projects across many forms of media, even testing new apps all because of the relationships I built with people.
Real People. People I trust. People that trust me back.
No matter what line of work you are in, if you gain the trust of others through your hard work you possibilities are endless.
It’s such a strange and beautiful thing. The mystery of how opportunities can come our way is just phenomenal. Sometimes I don’t even want to know the explanation because I want to just be thankful and celebrate. So many times we wonder “why me?” when we should really be joyful in our successes through these offerings that come our way. It’s not really about networking anymore. That’s not the word I want you to use. It’s about relationships and real people just like you.
So how do we build trust with others? How do we invest to create strong relationships.
- Finish what you started. Stay focused on what you set out to do. When people see you can follow through they know you can get the job done.
- Offer up your help without them asking. If you have a skill or talent that can help someone else succeed or maybe you are a good listener, offer up your support. It really shows you care.
- Ask people how they are. We all have rough days, sometimes we need to hear a friendly hello. Others need compassion more than you may think.
- Be honest. People really appreciate it if you tell them how you feel in a mature matter. Especially if it’s wearing you down. They usually will be very thankful and it brings you into a new level of trust with each other. Be transparent.
- Say thank you and your welcome. This seems like a lost habit among our modern culture. It means a lot to feel appreciated. The feelings should be mutual and usually are. Make it known.
What opportunities have you built through strong relationships?
