There’s a strange human phenomena that has puzzled scientists for years. Why do so many people trust their friends instead of the experts? You’ve probably seen it in action, even with something simple. Maybe you’ve done it yourself. 

Let’s say Jane is trying to decide whether or not to go see a movie. The film is hailed by critics—experts in narrative and dramatic interpretation who’ve spent years honing their craft and have critiqued literally thousands of movies. Yet when making the decision to view the film, Jane asks her friend, Tom, who says the movie is terrible. 

As you may have noticed, the world is full of people. That means you’re in the people business, regardless of what you do. Anything we do— no matter how obscure and far removed from the public it may seem— ultimately involves people in some fashion or form. Your relationships with these people will go a long way in determining your business success.

Relationships matter in business, now more than ever.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

― Henry Ford

You’re only as old as you feel, so they say. As Henry Ford knew well, that also applies to your mind. Constantly striving to challenge your brain has many dividends.

“Beware the Ides of March,” the soothsayer warned Julius Caesar. Naturally, Rome’s would-be dictator ignored this sensible advice and soon perished under the knives of those whom he had counted as friends. The stories we grow up on are filled with similar endings— it might be failing to avoid a black cat, passing under a ladder or walking into that creepy-looking house when all reason says not to. Do you take any of those stories to heart? Are you superstitious about your business?

‘Anything you can do, I can do better.

I can do anything better than you.’

Does this sound familiar? It’s a little song most of us heard as children. And it’s also a way many of us want to do business as adults.

It’s been a long, cold winter. You’ve sat with an annoying chill right between your shoulder blades more times than you can count, and the heavy coat that seemed so fashionable at the beginning of the season now seems like a big weight you have to carry around. When you see the first crocus poking up through the snowy ground, you’re barely able to contain your excitement.

Do you remember back when our mailboxes were stuffed with holiday cards? A few of them might have been from dear old aunt Edna or your pen pal from Greece, but a lot of them were from people we barely knew. They might have been from the guy we bought a car from three years ago, or the manager of the hardware store wishing us Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas or greetings from whatever holiday was coming up. If you’re an entrepreneur trying to drum up business, you might have even sent a few of these cards yourself.

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If you blink, you’re obsolete. In fact, you’re obsolete by the time you’ve even considered whether to blink or whether you’re obsolete. Actually, it may not be that bad, but in this modern world with all its constant change and hubbub, it can sure feel that way sometimes.

So how do you stay up to speed?

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At some point in your professional career you’ve probably been told there’s a wealth of books out there that will help you achieve your goals. It might be inspiring stories of entrepreneurs who built their businesses from virtually nothing, or maybe tips on personal networking or ancient philosophical texts on leadership. If you’re a Star Trek fan, it might even be the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. Knowledge can be found in the most unusual places.

Back in our school days we probably remember giving a valentine to that special someone and hoping they felt the same way about us. It might have had flowers and bows (or even snakes and snails), but it was given with love and all the sincerity in our young hearts. We were marketing ourselves even then, though we might not have known it at the time.