The 5 Key People

Surround yourself with smart people. People who know what you want to know. People who do what you want to do. People who have what you want to have. The 5 key people. 

Simple concept, but are you actually doing it in your business? In your life? 

Relationships are the cornerstone of success and continued conversation is vital to keeping those bonds strong.

As you close out February, spend some time on follow-up. Be it with current clients, potential ones, colleagues, mentors. You have something to talk about with every single one of those groups. Don’t wait for someone else to reach out. You can do that, anytime.

You should also be the one to facilitate conversations and build stronger relationships within your internal business. 

Think about your leadership team. When was the last time they had a meeting with one another? Not with their own department, or their own team, just all the leaders together in a room? Especially if you have various locations with multiple managers and leaders. 

Plan meetings, retreats, sessions, whatever you want to call it and get team members and leaders that don’t get to interact much on a daily basis, or don’t normally work together, and put them in the same room or on the same Zoom. There is so much power in connection, as well as collaboration. 

Speaking of that, be a connector within your network. I probably send at least 1-2 intro emails out a week. When I know that someone can be a resource for someone else, I always make sure they meet. And in turn, many people have done that for me.

It’s very easy to live in your own world and go about your day and do what you need to do, but if you just spend a few extra minutes a day being a connector for others, you will see results. You will see opportunities.

Getting your clients together is also a great way to build relationships and expand people’s networks. I am not sure if she still does this, but in the past, Barbara Corcoran hosted an annual retreat for all the companies she invests in via Shark Tank. What an amazing way to get so many smart people in one room and get them talking and sharing ideas and resources. 

Networking groups, either in-person or online, are also a fantastic way to be in the room, or on the screen, with smart people. Get involved. Learn. Grow. There is so much content out in the world and it’s impossible to digest it all, nor do you want to. Find the resources in networking and organizations that are the best fit for you, your business, your goals and partake in them. Surrounding yourself with people who already have the knowledge, expertise and experience you are looking for is so helpful as you work toward your goals and vision.