Want to know how to build business relationships that last?

Let me ask you a question…

Why did you open this email?

Hopefully it’s because when you receive an email and my name pops up you think “this could be interesting”…

Instead of…

Not that nuisance again.

And that’s the way to build business relationships that last – online or offline – isn’t it?

Think about it: there are people that when the phone rings and you see their name pop up on caller ID you cringe and automatically let it go to voice mail.

There are also people that you will automatically pick up, no matter how busy they are.

What’s the difference?

Really think about that.

My guess is:

One group is takers.

The other are givers.

So if you want to build business relationships that last with key clients and centres of influence… choose to be a giver.

Think about what people need.

It might be a book. It might be an introduction to someone. It might be an article you can send them. It might be something you can do for them.

And then give it to them.

Always think: give first…

Before you ask.

I believe virtually everything can be learned.

It’s all about practice. Books like Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and the Talent Code by Daniel Coyle prove this.

Piano can be learned.

Tennis can be learned.

Soccer can be learned.

Reading and writing can be learned.

Driving a car can be learned.

Why?

Because they are a skill.

How about making money?

What makes that so different?

Is that some raw, god-given talent some people get and others don’t?

I don’t think so.

You can learn to write great ads.

You can learn to do joint ventures.

You can learn to send out fax streams.

You can learn to do lumpy mail.

You can learn to create postcards that sell.

You can learn how to get your letters past the gatekeeper.

You can learn how to generate leads online.

You can learn how to send compelling emails.

You can learn article marketing.

You can learn how to get a commission only sales force through affiliates.

And the best part is, you can learn them all by clicking here.

None of these things are talents. They are skills. And if you put in the effort and time to test out the theories… they’re almost certain to bolster your bottom line.

Think about it: if it’s possible for others to learn to create wealth, why isn’t it possible for you.

Shift that belief – and watch the magic begin.

I just finished reading Steve Jobs biography – what an awesome read.

One of the rivalries between Apple and Microsoft was the difference between the open and closed systems.

Jobs argued that Microsoft created sub-standard products because they could never control the system – and when you have all sorts of people contributing to a system, it makes for a disjointed system that doesn’t really work very well.

Granted, Jobs was a “control freak” – but I think it served him well in the area of computing.

I also think it would serve you well in the world of advertising because as the saying goes:

A camel is a horse designed by a committee.

And if you’re not going to learn how to design a good advertisement and stick to your guns (like Steve Jobs did) you’re not going to create a killer ad that takes the world by storm like the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Macintosh computers did.

You’ll create humdrum ads that everyone puts their two cents worth into – but which DON’T WORK

Of course, you need to understand the fundamentals first.

That’s easy.

Just get your hands on this.

And then, once you grasp the essentials.

Don’t ask every Tom, Dick and Harry what they think of your ad. Protect it. Control it. And run it – then let the customer decide if it works.

After all, their opinion is the only one that matters.