Investing in Relationships

We have four key resources: time, energy, attention, and money (or its equivalent). We can divert these resources towards things that pay dividends, including relationships.

Investing in relationships is simple. If you ask for something today, at a later date something will be asked of you + interest. If you provide something today, at a later date something will be provided to you + interest.

The key is, look to help others proactively and indiscriminately. Don’t help only those you think are worth your time. Don’t treat some as if they are beneath you.

Picture this. You are at a conference and a student wants to meet you. Your time feels limited, so you are short with the student. The student walks away feeling dismissed.

Alternatively, despite your time feeling limited, you take a minute to make a meaningful and memorable impact. The student walks away remembering your kindness.

You never know what will returned in exchange for your kindness. Fill the cups of others and they will fill yours. The more people you have filling your cup, the happier and more successful you will be.

Of course, I’m not suggesting that you become a full-on people pleaser. Kindness doesn’t mean letting others suck the life out of you; that doesn’t fill anyone’s cup. Boundaries are still important.