If you have been in business for more than a few months you probably heard the saying: “People like to do business with whom they like and trust.” And this is absolutely true. Tom Ziglar has a saying about this. “Would you hire an accountant that is 99% honest?” Stephen M. R. Covey has an interesting book called Speed of Trust. How building trust is fundamental to speed up business transactions.
Trust is a consequence of a solid relationship. Can you imagine doing business without lawyers, and contracts? Would you invest money into a company without legal agreements? In 1998 Andy Bechtolsheim wrote a $100,000 check to Larry Page and Sergey Brin the founders of Google after an informal conversation in a cafe, rumour has it. Google Inc. was not even incorporated yet. Andy just gave Larry and Sergey $100,000 out of trust. And he got $1.5 billion back by helping create one of the largest and most profitable companies in the history of the human race, simply out of trust.
In my movie “Zig You Were Born To Win” Available on Amazon Prime and all retails stores, I explain how the 6 steps Mr. Ziglar identified as being the fundamentals of success can help you become successful through the words of people who became extremely successful. The steps are: Strong Self-Image, Building Winning Relationships, Setting Goals, Positive Attitude, Work Ethics and Passion. On his book See You At The Top, Mr. Ziglar explains each step in detail.
Building relationships is fundamental for success in business, in personal life and in the spiritual life. Imagine you are good friends with Larry Page and Sergei Brin? How many doors do you think this would open for you? What if you were good friends with the President of The United States or anyone with a position of power?
Shocker Alert!!! The most powerful being in the universe wants to have a deep and sincere relationship with you. What do you think this relationship can do for you?
Jesus when asked what was the most important commandments of all, answered:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
While working with Operation Care International, a nonprofit that cares for the homeless, I learned that when you give to a homeless person you are doing something much more impactful than you think. If you give them a piece of bread you are not just feeding them, you are telling them “I see you, I care about you”.
Caring for one another is the most important relationship building we can build and when we care for the least of these, we care for our Father God.
“whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” Matthew 25:40
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor” Romans 12:10
Keep building a relationship with God and as his heir you will inherit all His blessings. And one of the best ways to do so is to build relationships with his children.