Your greatest asset

I like to ask people what their greatest asset is. Most of the time, the answer makes me yawn and want to grab some coffee. It’s the usual things; cars, homes, businesses, basically anything material and measurable. But what if your greatest asset is something you’ve been overlooking.

The number one issue I come across is financially wealthy individuals who have hit a wall. They have built an empire in some form and then it all starts to fall apart or stops growing. When I ask the above question, and I get an answer like I normally do, I know where the problem lies. They have looked at the wrong accounting book for their strategic growth.

Let me state it as plainly and directly as possible. Your greatest asset is your relationships. Countless studies have proven this psychologically that it’s undebatable. But while your still in your prime whether that’s your 30’s, 40’s or 50’s your greatest measurement of success is your relationships. My relational equity is my greatest asset.

I have friends that have endured me for over 30 years. I have others that go back a decade or two. But my relational equity knows they have value with me. I let them know both in words and action. And there is a great principle in human social dynamics called reciprocity. When you give people this kind of value and respect, it comes back to you. i didn’t do it for that reason, I genuinely love people. That is how I learned these metrics.

Most people treat people as disposable. One friend comes and another goes. Perfectly normal they will say. But it shouldn’t be a constant occurrence. Listen, if someone is a drama queen or lies to me repetitively I will set them out of my inner circle. I will do it to protect those around me. I have a key metric that is non-negotiable in all my relationships: respect. I trust you because I respect you. We Italians understand this. I will give you respect at all times, and I expect respect from you. Violate that and we will have problems. Not because I’m intolerant but because respect is the basis of all healthy human relationships.

Are you treating your relational network with respect? Do they feel valued from you? Then you will find they will slowly drift away, or abruptly block you. Each time someone does that it has ripple effects across your network. Too much of it and business has a way of slowing down or stopping all together. Your reputation is based on how you respect others, not on your material possessions.

I get calls or emails regularly from people in my network looking for some need that have in business. And I try to help them. I connect them and help them. Deals and opportunities find me. It’s no accident or cosmic mystery – I nurture my relational network. I encourage you to do some honest reflection and see how you are doing in this regard. Ask some of the people around you. Most of the time they will tell you the truth if you don’t have a reputation for over-reacting.