I’ve said it over and over, but the key to success in life and business often comes down to the quality of our relationships. It’s something I’ve focused on — and it’s why friends of mine have joked there are “two degrees of Joe Polish” in the world as compared to the “six degrees of Kevin Bacon”! While I’m not sure that’s true, I still recommend that Entrepreneurs focus on making real friends over deal friends, and not so they can be popular and raise their status.

As many people have to learn the hard way, there’s a big difference between being well-known and being well-paid — even though developing real relationships helps you do both (though you really only need the second one). By trying to have the best possible relationships, you will automatically focus on being valuable, helpful, and useful to others. You will develop strong communication skills and a better sense of what drives other people. In the process, you’ll make connections between different people who wouldn’t have met otherwise, growing your network in a genuine and effective way. At the end of it all, you’ll have improved your friendships and your life in general, but you’ll also have everything you need to succeed in business as well.

A genuinely well-connected network is more valuable than any superficial number of followers on social media. Of course, the key to maintaining those networks is learning to follow the law of reciprocity. Take the example of Hare Krishnas who give people flowers and then ask for a dollar donation. Most people can’t say no in that situation — the law of reciprocity demands it.

Though their approach is a bit manipulative, it illustrates a point: reciprocity is a lot more powerful than most people realize. Be reciprocal with others in your network, but do it in a selfless and undirected way. Offer value and kindness and let your relationships grow organically. If you need someone else’s help or time, ask for their advice instead of their opinion to invite them in — advice means collaboration while an opinion is just asking someone to work for us.

As I’ve learned myself, success and failure often come down to our real relationships. By remembering this and being reciprocal, you’ll close the gap between being well-known and well-paid — all while touching the lives of everyone around you.

P.S. I've created a resource page as a central guide with access to valuable resources available to you right now. Check it out at www.GeniusNetwork.com/Vision-Insight. Bookmark this page. This is where I will post every new update.

P.P.S. Whenever you're ready... here are 3 more ways I can help you make YOUR business and life more E.L.F. (Easy, Lucrative, and Fun!):

1. Discover the 10x Multipliers to grow your business exponentially… Amplify your opportunities and reveal the untapped potential in your business: www.10XTalk.com/Vision
2. Trigger these 8 Profit Activators in your business right now: www.ILoveMarketing.com/Vision
3. I'm often asked what books I recommend. So, I've put together a collection of books and products in 9 specific categories. These are resources we've shared in Genius Network to help improve life and business... To check them out visit www.JoePolish.com/Books-Vision

P.P.P.S. If You Or Someone You Know Is Struggling With Addiction, visit www.GeniusRecovery.org/Vision-Letter
Also, check these out 🙂
www.JoePolish.com/Vision-FreeBook
www.ILoveMarketing.com/MarketingVision
www.GeniusRecovery.org/RecoveryVision

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