Improve Yourself 11: Practice the 9 Keys to Better Relations

This continues our series on how to improve yourself to get the biggest raises and best promotions

Bryan developed great business relations with those around him. His reputation as a connector drew people to him for advice and and networking. He seemed to know everybody. They respected his expertise and willingness to support and serve others. He helped people build their business, turn around failing businesses, or create exit strategies that allowed owners to make great money. He learned and practiced the 9 keys of relationship outlined by Jared and Sarah Stewart in City of Influence.

Every Opportunity Has It’s Root in a Relationship

We’ve posted multiple times  about Jared and Sarah Stewart’s book City of Influence. Jared first introduced me to the keys of relationships 8 years ago. I have read it every year between Christmas and New Year’s Eve since it was first published in 2008. The book offers an easy read teaching it’s principles in a simple tale that requires about 3.5 hours to read.

I’ve verified some of the basic premises of the book multiple times. Some of their assumptions include:

• People do business with people they know, like, and trust
• Every opportunity has it’s root in a relationship
  • Ray Kroc built McDonald’s based on 3 key relationships
  • Roy Disney’s relationship with Ub Iwerks helped create Mickey Mouse
  • The founders of Google and their relationship with John Doerr

The 9 Keys to Better Relationships

Sarah and Jared outline 9 keys to building business relationships. Practicing these keys will help you develop the kind of relationships that will increase your influence. Paradoxically, the key to increasing your influence is serving others and not self-centered interests. As a result of serving others, more people serve you. You feel more fulfilled.

The 9 keys to relationships include:

• Business is about relationships
• Avoid relationship arrogance
• Develop relationships just because
• Learn, Serve, Grow
• Bricks trump sticks
• Exit the coliseum
• Swim in pools
• Measure relationships
• Decide to govern

I really encourage you to buy and read this book.

Friday we discuss how improving work skills increases your worth and value to companies

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