Grow Business Success by Growing Personal Relationships
By Susan Goodsell - Oct 26 , 2009
Contrary to popular belief, success in any business, including the book industry, is not who you know, but rather how well you know them—as any expert BNI networker will tell you. Your success as a writer will grow exponentially as you grow your relationships with others in the book industry.
Here are five great tips on how to strengthen your relationships:
1. Show Your Commitment.
Under promise and over deliver. Meet or beat deadlines. Send kleen, opps, I mean clean copy. (Hey, I was a newspaper proofreader, you have no idea what gets sent in!) Know your market. Be on time for appointments and interviews and always display professionalism in word and deed.
2. Have a Positive Attitude.
“How’s it going?” asks the editor.
“Well, to be honest, not so well. Sorry I’m late on this, life has been crazy for me and I’m really backed up…” responds the writer.
“Great!” replies the editor, “Let me give you another assignment!”
As if!
Seeing this conversation in print may sound downright silly, but the fact is this type of negativity is all too common. The bottom line is, no matter what your circumstances are, you need to absolutely ooze a positive attitude from every pore! Complain about work to your oh-so-patient spouse, your best friend from high school, or your pet goldfish, but never, ever to someone who is in the position of giving you work.
The only type of answer to that editor’s query is something along the lines of, “It’s great! Looks like I have a possible book deal based on that series of articles I did. I’m loving life!” Give me some of what he’s having, right?
3. Help Others Succeed.
Mentor a new writer. We were all there once and mentoring a newbie will remind you of the enthusiasm you had, but perhaps lost a bit of along the way.
Introduce two people who may benefit by knowing one another. I love being a connector of people and doing this strengthens your relationship with both parties.
When you meet another person in the book industry, say, “I’d like to get to know you and your business better so I can be better able to help you.” Then, most importantly, follow up and set an appointment for coffee or lunch. Listen to a need and fill it. The single best way for you to succeed is to help others succeed.
4. Be Proactive.
Don’t be a cave dweller! Get involved in the industry by attending trade shows, book signings, conferences, and workshops.
Have a culture of education as it pertains to your business and your life. Don’t stop learning, don’t stop living!
5. Follow the Platinum Rule.
Many of us were raised by our mother’s admonishing us to follow the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you wish to be treated. However, in business I am going to encourage you to follow the Platinum Rule:
Treat others the way they wish to be treated.
A personal example: People love to give a nice bottle of wine as a thank you. I have received many fine bottles of wine over the years. However, if you know me, you know I’m not exactly a wine connoisseur. I seldom drink it and wouldn’t know a Domaine Romanee-Conti from a bottle of Two Buck Chuck! (Here’s a secret – to anyone who gave me a bottle of wine in the past seven years, my former mother-in-law thanks you, because every bottle ended up at her house!)
If you do get to know me, you’ll soon learn that I’m a frustrated farmer living in Southern California, where postage-stamp-sized yards are the norm. I had a client to whom I had given a referral. When the business successfully closed, he stopped by my office and left a 4” pot of basil (which retails at the local Target store for $1.79), with a thank you note attached. I loved it! And now the basil is about three feet tall and I think of him every time I pluck a few leaves to toss in a caprese salad.
Find out what is important to those you do business with. Not in a manipulative way, but as a way to strengthen your relationship with them.
None of these tips is difficult, but I promise if you initiate them, you will see results. Strengthening relationships is about farming, not hunting, and it takes patience and persistence. But the reward is a healthy tree which will bear fruit for years and years to come.
Whatever you call it—–it’s good for business!
Consumers Need Freedom of Choice
