You shouldn't do business with friends' is a fairly common refrain in our line of work. Here at INCITE, we feel differently. Working with people you trust, connect with, learn from, and ultimately befriend, makes doing business with friends a natural outcome. Much like a close friendship, a positive client relationship requires effort, intention, and even a few boundaries. You have to set expectations early and discuss how you will navigate inevitable challenges, which is especially important for people who were your friend before they became your client. Client relationships that blossom into friendships offer the space to dig deep and tackle important, sensitive work. They challenge you to bring your best self and to raise your game. Friends who become clients. Clients who become friends. We've seen both work tremendously well, and frankly, we wouldn't have it any other way. This is lesson 23/25. If you missed the others, or any of Incite’s 25 lessons learned, you can find them all at https://buff.ly/3vMs8zc.
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I started my first business at 20. 9 harsh truths I wish I knew at the start: 1. Not every opportunity is worth your time ↳ Saying no is a skill - cut out opportunities that distract you from your goal. 2. Be open-minded ↳ You never know what a conversation can lead to. 3. Love your product ↳ You can’t sell something you don’t believe in. 4. Consistency is everything ↳ An OK plan that you stick to is better than a perfect plan that you dip in and out of. 5. Not every day will be a good day ↳ Don’t let it affect your life outside of work. 6. Delayed gratification is underrated ↳ Pressure is healthy, but you have to be patient. It all takes time. 7. It’s about who, not how ↳ Build a team that loves what they do. 8. Test processes, refine them, and then scale ↳ Ace each step before you move to the next. 9. Confidence is everything. Back yourself. ↳ If you don’t have absolute confidence in yourself, who will? What would you add as number 10? ♻️ Repost to inspire someone in your network. Follow me → Harrison Bishop for more!
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In a world where transactions often overshadow connections, I'm taking a different route. Yes, I'm in the business of offering services, but more than that, I'm about building genuine relationships. I'm not here to be the "typical" salesperson who bothers you with calls and messages. Instead, I want to dive deeper, understand who you are, share a lunch, and listen to stories about your family and life. Because to me, business is more than just an exchange of services, it's about connecting on a human level. I believe in the power of trust and truly getting to know the people I hope to work with. Not everyone might be open to this approach, and that's perfectly okay. But if you ask me, knowing and trusting the person you're doing business with is the foundation of comfort and, ultimately, success. So, if you're like me and believe in the importance of relationships in business, let's connect. Maybe over a coffee or lunch? Let's make our professional journey about more than just the bottom line.
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Trainer • Coach • Performance & Sales Coach • Business Consulting • Better Business Awards Mentor & Industry Thought Leader of the Year (2024) • Founder of Success & Broker • Empowering Your Journey Forward 🚀
If you've ever met me, you'll know I can talk underwater (my wife says it's because I'm deaf in my left ear so I overcompensate by talking!). Jokes aside though, there's a powerful lesson in the saying, "Listen to understand, not listen to respond." Too often, we focus on what we'll say next while someone else is talking, missing out on truly hearing what they're communicating. As a Broker of Tomorrow, genuine connection with clients is built on deep understanding – their hopes, fears, and everything unspoken. This kind of listening fosters trust, helps you tailor your guidance, and creates the kind of client loyalty that fuels a thriving business. So, the next time you're in a conversation, challenge yourself to truly listen. It might just transform your relationships and your business.
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Join the waitlist for "The BRILLIANT Communicator". Get exclusive access to a group Q&A session. Helping you become the known, go-to expert in your niche. 👇 Book out soon!
You're known for your expertise when this happens: 1- What people come to you for is what you want to be known for. 2- When someone asks 'what does (you) do?' The answer is exactly what you want it to be. 3- When there's an opportunity that's perfect for you, people think of you. You've done the hard work - you're an expert, an author, started your business - don't let all that effort go to waste. Being known for your brilliance is the key to good things to come. Which point is your strongest? Which is your biggest challenge?
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When you’re running on full speed throughout the year, it’s hard to find the time to look at your current relationships from the outside in. That’s why the New Year is the perfect time to sit down and spend some time re-evaluating all your relationships – from family to friends, to your special someone. Start spring off on the right foot by looking at the current condition of your relationships to find areas that need improvement and growth. If you’re not sure where to start, let us help with these quick tips to re-evaluate your relationships: https://buff.ly/3UYBmmD
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The Power of Someone Believing In You ✨ I have worked with some incredible people in my time, incredibly knowledgeable, incredibly kind, and also some incredible a**holes. Each and every experience has taught me something and given me the opportunity to grow. Out of all of the above, the experiences that stand out the most for me are the ones where people have believed in me. In times when I haven't believed in myself, in times when the end goal didn't seem possible I have worked with people that have been a true support system. The below image is a representation of that support, it won't mean anything to anyone else but to me at the time this was the push I needed to continue the task at full throttle and get the win. It pushed me to sign one of my largest deals, and a unique study type for the company I worked for at the time. What is the point of this rambling? If you get the opportunity to show your belief in someone - do it! You have no idea how much that could help them at the time and I guarantee it will the stay with the person for a long time. #BelieveInOthers #SupportMatters #PowerOfBelief
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Vice President @ Central Executive Search | Executive Recruiter | Specializing in Pressure Sensitive Adhesives, Tapes, Coating, Converting, Electronics Manufacturing, Plastics, and Flexible Packaging Markets for 23 years
The thing about Trust in business is that it takes FOREVER to build it et it only takes ONE bad moment to break it & lose it forever. and it's all about consistency & patience. That's why I'm super thankful I've built up Trust by consistent & honest & authentic interactions with my clients & candidates from day 1 and never let them have any doubt that I have their best interest in mind. It's not about the transaction or making the deal, it's about making sure people know that I care about their situation and want what's best for THEM. I don't try to make deals.... I listen & care about what people are going through and make matches with what my clients need & care about with what my candidates need & care about. Although this makes it sound entirely too simple and it's definitely a complicated process, I like simple.... because life and work are complicated enough so it's not my job to make things more complicated for anyone in my business / recruiting efforts. My job is to take the complicated stuff and make it simple so I do all of the heavy lifting (in recruiting).... so the clients & candidates just need to be themselves and be honest and have integrity. Just like your mother used to tell you when you were growing up, do the right thing when no one is watching. Don't tell a lie. Be good to others, the golden rule, etc etc. We make life so complicated. We make work so complicated. We make business and relationships so complicated. Do the right thing. Care about the people in your life and in your business. Focus, work hard, work smart, pay attention to details.... and build trust through being authentic and having integrity and virtue ... that way, when you're old and on your death bed, you don't have any regrets. that way, you know your clients and customers are going to remember you and WANT to do business with you because they trust you. that way, you can live a good life, have a good business, have excellent trust-built relationships that stand the test of time. I look forward to seeing some of you at the Pack Expo in early November. Until then, be well & be good to yourself & others.
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When you’re running on full speed throughout the year, it’s hard to find the time to look at your current relationships from the outside in. That’s why the New Year is the perfect time to sit down and spend some time re-evaluating all your relationships – from family to friends, to your special someone. Start spring off on the right foot by looking at the current condition of your relationships to find areas that need improvement and growth. If you’re not sure where to start, let us help with these quick tips to re-evaluate your relationships: https://buff.ly/3UYBmmD
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People do remember how they feel about you. Success in business is built on relationships, not just deals. The stronger the connection, the greater the opportunity for long-term success. Take the time to truly understand your clients' needs and goals, and foster trust by offering real value. Whether it’s through a simple check-in call or a thoughtful gesture, investing in relationships pays off in loyalty and mutual growth. People remember how you make them feel, so focus on creating positive, lasting impressions. I promise it'll be worth it!
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