Do you know what the key to a successful life is?
There’s been an incredible study out of Harvard—might be one of the longest ever carried out, spanning over 70 years. It focused on happiness. And do you know what they found? The secret to a successful life is the quality of our relationships, particularly those long-term ones.
Now, what do you think is the key to a successful business? Surprisingly, it’s exactly the same—strong, enduring relationships.
In this video, I want to share a simple piece of advice that can not only boost your performance but might just change the course of your career.
One of my clients is one of the largest consulting firms in the world. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with about 1,000 of its leaders globally. Time and again, I’d heard about this great sales training by a person named Mo. Unbeknownst to me, Mo was also hearing about WSLB during his training sessions.
A few years ago, we finally connected—I can’t remember who reached out to whom first—but from our very first meeting, we clicked. Same age, same passion for helping people, and very similar values. We’ve kept in touch since then, regularly sharing ideas and insights.
This week, something exciting happened: Mo is launching his new book called ‘Give to Grow’. I was lucky enough to get an early copy and then the final version, too. I’ve read it twice now, and it’s fantastic. So many great insights, and it aligns perfectly with the WSLB mindset.
For those who know me, you’re familiar with my focus on prioritising by impact and thinking about long-term value. Whether it’s setting priorities on a quarterly basis, managing your to-do list, or dealing with daily crises, the question I always ask is: What will have the most impact long-term?
Mo’s Gift to Grow is built on the same principle—focusing on long-term relationships as the cornerstone of growing your business. He asks the same question: How much time are you investing each day in building and nurturing these relationships?
He’s got a brilliant quote in the book: “A great deal might make your year, but a great relationship can make your career.”
The challenge we both see is that we’re often so caught up in the short-term—urgent tasks, immediate deadlines, and the constant hustle—that we neglect the long-term work of building relationships. And that, in my view, comes at a big cost.
In the 20 years I’ve been in business, I’ve had the privilege of building deep, lasting relationships with many key clients. Yes, these relationships have had a positive impact on my business, but more importantly, they’ve brought joy and fulfilment. Some of these clients I haven’t worked with in years, but I still love catching up with them, seeing how I can help—even if it’s outside of business—by guiding them or pointing them in the right direction.
I’ve got two suggestions for you today:
Grab a Copy of Give to Grow: I highly recommend Mo’s book. It’s packed with valuable insights that can help you build those long-term relationships that are crucial to your success. Here is the link where you can get your hands on it: Give to Grow
Attend the Give to Grow Live Event: Mo is hosting an amazing event on the 17th and 18th of September 2024 in Atlanta, USA. It’s called Give to Grow Live—a day and a half packed with top-notch speakers and learning opportunities. Mo will be training some of the top leaders, and it’s already shaping up to be a fantastic event with about 150 people attending. I’ll be there, not just to learn from the master himself, but also because Mo has asked me to do a quick session during the event. Here is the link if you’re interested: Give to Grow Live —trust me, it will be worth it!
So, my question to you is: How much time do you invest each day in developing and nurturing long-term relationships with your potential and existing clients?
This is this week’s Work Smarter: Live Better tip.
Hope you have a lovely day!
A bientôt,
Cyril
