It’s Just Business

I’m a huge fan of the NBA and every summer you hear players talking about it being a business when they get traded. It’s not personal, it’s just business. I’ve understood the literal meaning of those words, and I’ve understood what it means in context to the players being traded, but I’ve come to realize that I never truly internalized the meaning of something just being business relative to me…

Until today.

I’ve been reading Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi, which has helped me understand the finer points of relationship building, in lieu of straight networking. Totally recommend the book, by the way. So yea, business deals come and go, but relationship building takes time. Relationships can flourish despite business deals falling through.

Apparently the digital voice in my head was not aware of this phenomenon before.

Who Cares?

A couple of business relationships of mine are in flux, at the moment, so this lesson is extremely timely for me in that regard.

The lesson being that the business and the relationship are two separate entities. And it’s the relationship that is of utmost importance, if any business is to get done now or in the future. Sometimes the relationship is worth more than the business at hand… I’m learning that’s ok. I’m also finding out more everyday how meeting and being cool to people leads to new and awesome opportunities.

I’ve been really involved with the internets since 2001, but have only been making the transition from on-line to real life since July of 2008. Now in July of 2009, it’s starting to become a super-fun, action-packed ride, and I’m hanging on to my hat about it with a new understanding of the connection between people, relationships and business.