I
have
built
an
entire
company
on
being
able
to
relationship.
Yes,
I
said
it
like
that
on
purpose.

According
to
Google,
a
relationship
is
“the
way
in
which
two
or
more
concepts,
or
people
are
connected,
or
the
state
of
being
connected.”
And
while
the

industry
is
currently
obsessed
with

AI
(
I
mean
total
obsession)
on
how

Artificial
Intelligence
is
going
to
be
utilized
to
streamline
processes,
scale
production,
and
help
us
grow,
I’m
going
to
tell
you
something
that
may
sound
old
school….
Relationships
are
still
the
#1
driver
of
growth
and
sales
revenue.
AI
can
help
you
create
the
strategy.
It
can
help
you
draft
the
outline.
It
can
even
help
you
write
the
follow-up
email.
But
it
will
never
solely
close
the
deal.
That
part
is
entirely
on
you.

I’ve
been
blessed
with
a
God-given
talent
to
connect,
and
I
use
that
strength
to
solve
problems
across
marketing,
social
media,
video,
and
even
recruiting.
Because
at
the
end
of
the
day,
in
this

industry,
people
don’t
just
buy
services.
They
buy
trust.
They
buy
confidence
and
they
buy
connection.
So
let
me
counsel
you
a
little
on
how
to
leverage
relationships
to
not
only
grow
yourself,
but
grow
your
organization
too.

“Show
me
your
friends,
and
I’ll
show
you
who
you
are.” 

My
grandmother
used
to
tell
me
this
all
the
time
(of
course
in
Spanish)
and
boy
was
she
right.
Having
the
right
relationships
in
your
life,
both
personally
and
professionally,
can
elevate
you
to
the
next
level.
Most
people
love
to
show
off
who
they’re
aligned
with.
Whether
it’s
snapping
a
picture
and
posting
it
on
social
media,
or
dropping
someone’s
name
when
trying
to
make
an
introduction.
But
trust
and
believe,
who
you
associate
with
matters
in
business.
This
is
a
relationship
based

industry.
Your
name,
your
reputation,
and
your
character
will
travel
into
rooms
before
you
do.
And
the
people
watching
you?
They’re
not
always
who
you
think.

Trust
is
the
#1
factor
you
need
in
sales.
People
will
not
do
business
with
you,
and
they
definitely
won’t
refer
business
to
you,
if
they
don’t
trust
you.
So
how
do
you
gain
trust?
You
show
up,
time
after
time.
You
stay
consistent.
And
you
give
first.
Be
a
giver! 
Yes,
you’re
going
to
have
to
extend
the
olive
branch
first
sometimes.
Especially
if
you’re
trying
to
work
with
high
level
people
who
already
have
options.
Giving
first
shows
you
believe
in
yourself
and
your
product.
It
also
signals
you’re
not
just
there
to
take.

Let’s
talk
about
“showing
up,”
because
a
lot
of
people
get
this
wrong.
Showing
up
doesn’t
mean
attending
the
conference
and
sitting
in
the
room
quietly.
It
also
includes
how
you
are
dressed,
how
you
present
yourself,
how
you
move,
and
even
how
you
speak.
Your
energy
introduces
you
before
your
business
card
does.
How
you
speak
to
the
wait
and
hotel
staff
at
a
conference
will
say
a
lot
about
you.
The
words
you
choose.
The
way
you
treat
people
who
“can’t
do
anything
for
you.”
All
of
it
matters.
People
notice,
and
in
an
industry
like
ours,
people
talk.
One
of
the
quickest
ways
to
damage
a
relationship
is
to
be
inconsistent.
Don’t
go
back
and
forth.
Don’t
overpromise
and
underdeliver.
Don’t
talk
big
and
move
small.
If
you
say
you’re
going
to
do
something,
do
it.
Period!
Being
reliable
is
rare
these
days,
and
that’s
why
it’s
powerful.

Here’s
another
truth:
people
watch
their
competition.
So
if
you’re
doing
business
with
someone’s
competitor,
trust
me,
they’re
watching
you
too.
This
is
why
your
integrity
matters.
You
don’t
have
to
play
politics,
but
you
do
have
to
understand
perception.
Relationships
can
open
doors,
and
they
can
close
them
just
as
fast.

Not
all
money
is
good
money
–
Not
everyone
will
do
business
with
you,
and
that’s
okay.
For
me,
it’s
quality
over
quantity,
and
not
all
money
is
good
money.
Some
relationships
will
cost
you
more
than
they’re
worth.
They’ll
drain
your
energy,
your
confidence,
your
time,
and
your
peace.
Weed
those
out
and
cut
them
off
quickly.
You
do
not
have
time
to
coddle
relationships
that
aren’t
adding
value
to
you.

Which
leads
me
to
one
of
my
favorite
questions:
Are
you
a
fountain
or
a
drain?
Do
people
perceive
you
as
someone
who
adds
value
to
the
industry?
Or
do
they
see
you
as
someone
they
have
to
tolerate?

Try
talking
to
the
person
in
the
corner.
The
quiet
ones
are
often
the
most
powerful
people
in
the
room.
They’re
observers.
They
retain
information.
And
when
they
speak,
people
listen.
Don’t
overlook
them
because
they
aren’t
the
loudest.
And
remember,
relationships
can
form
anytime,
anywhere.
In
the
elevator.
In
line
for
coffee.
Sitting
next
to
someone
you’ve
never
met.
There
is
opportunity
everywhere
if
you’re
open
enough
to
see
it.
I
don’t
believe
in
coincidence.

Don’t
be
a
“mean
girl”
in
business
–
This
one
is
simple,
be
approachable.
Be
willing
to
invite
new
people
into
your
circle.
Don’t
be
the
person
giving
off
“you
can’t
sit
with
us”
energy.
That’s
a
major
turn-off,
and
it’s
also
a
sign
of
insecurity.
Give
people
the
opportunity
to
build
a
relationship
with
you
and
your
tribe.
You
don’t
want
to
be
so
far
removed
that
you’re
unapproachable.
In
this
industry,
being
warm
will
take
you
further
than
being
“important.”
Because
in
the
end,
AI
can
assist
us.
But
relationships
will
always
lead
us.

Dalila
Ramos
is
the
founder
of
Taco
Tuesday
Talks
+
Career
Matchmaker.

This
column
does
not
necessarily
reflect
the
opinion
of
HousingWire’s
editorial
department
and
its
owners.
To
contact
the
editor
responsible
for
this
piece:



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