Relationships Matter In Life and Business

We just returned from leading the Business With Purpose conference in Anchorage, Alaska.

If you haven't been to Alaska yet, it is all that people say. Beautiful!

During the day and half-conference, we covered a lot of ground in business, marriage, and family. While the title of the conference had to do with identifying your purpose and impact in business, the practical theme that came out of it was?relationships.

Relationship with your customers, employees, vendors, and your own family.

When you focus on relationships first, you will make an impact in the community and your business and life will prosper. But if any one of those relationships is not healthy,?you could struggle.

Relationships Matter

After the conference, quite a few people commented how they never really viewed the impact of relationships in everything they do. From a head knowledge perspective, they knew it was important but never really dissected the?impact it makes?in their personal life or business.

One person said, she really needs to re-evaluate her relationships.?

That most of her relationships are energy-sucking.

Time To Re-evaluate

Isn't that true for most of us?

As entrepreneurs, we are constantly serving. Even outside of our business, people seem to want to pull on us for one reason or another.

Whether it's for some type of volunteer work, donations, or counsel, we're needed. It's great to be needed and it's a pleasure to be able to give. But if you don't put up proper boundaries, it can suck the life out of you which can negatively impact your ability to lead at home and business.

It's not other people's fault. It's our own for not protecting our time and?not being?more selective in our relationships.

Here's what I mean.

A Healthy Mix of Relationships

I heard this great saying a while back.

In?your relationships, you want to surround yourself with?people who are Above you, Next to you, and Below you.

1. Above you are those people that you want to be more like and you can learn from. - Mentors.
2. Next to you are those people that are in a similar stage in life and you encourage each other. - Peers.
3. Below you are those people that?you can help up. - You are the mentor.

Relationships number one and two are life-giving. They don't need anything from you and they're either pouring into you or you're helping each other.?

How does this help you in life and business?

When you surround yourself with more life-giving relationships, you'll have more energy to?devote to the people who need you most. Whether it's your spouse, family, customers, or employees, they will all benefit from the healthy relationships you've built.?

Your Turn

Could you use more people in your life that are above or next to you?

Which people below you do you need to distance yourself from so you can fill in the gap with more life-giving relationships?

This may sound a little selfish to step away from certain relationships. But when you have a better balance of relationships, you will be a better spouse, parent, and business leader.

Here's to your success,

Robert Fukui

P.S.?If you want to pick our brains, feel free to?book a complimentary discovery call?We’d be happy to help you win in marriage and business.

Biography:?Robert and his wife Kay Lee run a consulting business that assists entrepreneur couples to create better balance in life and business. If you need a roadmap for greater work-life balance, buy their newly released book,?Tandem:?The married entrepreneurs' guide for greater work-life balance.