You will always need people. This is an important fact. Important enough to write on a sticky note and put it where you would always see it.
No matter how you want to slice it, people are the currency of life. And this is not just in business, before you think I am just saying your net worth is your network, (or is it your network is your network, idk).
Building long-lasting fruitful relationships takes time, energy and all the emotional strength in the world.
Is it easier with some people, yes? But is it going to be easy to build relationships with everybody you will most likely need in life? No
But it is one of the most rewarding but demanding part of life.
But humans are short-sighted. So we will rather not stress because ‘people are replaceable’. And because of a rising culture of selfishness masquerading as self-love, people only think about what to get and never about what to give.
A question naturally arises from the forgoing thoughts.
First. How do you know the people you will most likely need in your life? I hope there is a short answer to that, and if you see any please send them my way.
But I believe one of the beautiful things about relationships is that you can’t say which will turn out well.
A good example from my life. One of my very good friends today, we started on the wrongest foot. But he is now one of my deepest and most rewarding relationships.
So, how do you know? You really don’t. You just keep investing in relationships till you see the ones that pay off and the ones that don’t.
The efficient me sees all the waste that can come from that approach and wish there was a formula to apply to curb the waste. But then there is only so much you can optimise.
Second question. How do you build these relationships?
Really there are no formulas for building relationships, just some good rules of thumb.
Be kind
Try to give more than you take
The other person(s) is not perfect, so be willing to forgive
These are very simple rules, but difficult to implement. But relationships are the greatest investment of your time and energy.
Because when you are old and grey, you won’t remember the amount of money you made, or how much work you got done. It will be the memories and moments of those closest to you.
Start now to dig those wells before you are thirsty.
