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When I am out giving presentations about Relationship Marketing I always tell everyone that the number one quality you must have to use this type of marketing is that you must CARE about people.  Through the years I have found that this still remains true 100% of the time.

Keeping that in mind is of the utmost importance.  However, when I talk about the concept of building relationships and the benefits that you will no doubt receive , I will inevitably  hear the following question, "Shouldn't you build relationships with people simply because you "care" about them with no other motives involved?"

My answer to this is simple.  Relationship marketing will only work for you if you do care about people.  If you genuinely enjoy getting to know others, learning about them and ultimately building a relationship of trust.  That being said, there is still the motive of building and growing your business through these relationships.  This should not be a taboo subject!  If you are completely honest with yourself you know it to be true.  It has been suggested by some that building relationships with personal gain in mind is deceptive and underhanded.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  It is those of us that claim we use relationship marketing with the sole intention of building relationships and nothing else, that are being deceptive.   If fact, relationships are built on gaining knowledge and trust.  So, if you are truly transparent (which helps build the trust) you will not hide the facts of why you love to build relationships.

There are many, many reasons that building relationships is fun and rewarding.  First of all, I truly love people.  I enjoy getting to know them and hearing their story.  It's fun and I love having tons of friends!  But I also love what my friends do for me!  I credit my friends with the consistent growth of my business and therefore my lifestyle!  

I personally have no trouble letting my relationships know how much I love them!  But I also have no trouble letting them know that I will gladly accept their help.  The "buzz phrase" that is constantly repeated is that "It's all about the relationships".  I actually believe this to be true.  So if life is really about our relationships then doesn't it become obvious that we rely on each other for help, assistance and support?

So if you are a true relationship builder/marketer, release yourself from the burden of hiding the realities.  Of course there is something in it for you and rightly so.

-Walt Ford

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  If you have ever read the book, "As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen, then you will understand the reference that your brain is like a garden.

In the book it states that if you have a small patch of dirt and fail to plant in it the seeds of the crop you desire, your patch of dirt will fill with unwanted weeds.   Of course, we all know this to be true.  Even if you plant your own seeds you still need to tend your garden often or the weeds will still creep in.

The analogy here is that much like the patch of dirt, our brain will sprout with unwanted weeds if we do not plant the seeds in it that we desire and nurture them often.   I love this analogy and think of it often.  Although I speak much about relationship dynamics I also have a strong focus on self development.  I believe that self development is the footing below the foundation of everything else we are.  There is no denying that for a successful (in all meanings) life, you must work harder on yourself every single day than on anything else.

The difference here that I would like to note is subtle yet huge.  A patch of dirt can be filled with enough of the seeds that you want that it can effectivley choke out weeds and not let any more in.  Our brains on the otherhand can never be full!  Or if they can I have yet to see it.  So a little different from our garden, we cannot just plant a handful of seeds and be done.  We must continue self educating, self developing and planting seeds in our brain.  It is only in this manner that you will never allow the weeds into your head.

Life is truly a journey and a quest for knowledge.  It is my hope that this desire never wanes and that even as I am knocking at deaths door I will still be planting seeds.  If upon death there is nothing more, then so be it.  But what if there is more???  If I somehow move on to a different plane that consists of nothing but game shows like Jeopardy, at least I will be prepared.

-Walt

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  I have been having a great time for the past couple of weeks discussing prosperity and all that goes along with it.  When it comes right down to it, prosperity simply begins with awareness.  An awareness that you were born to be wealthy, prosperous, successful and healthy.  It is the conditioning that we are subject to over a lifetime that makes us begin to think otherwise.

  This week on the podcast I shared a story about myself and my Red Bull addiction.  I only recently quit the Red Bull about 9 or 10 months ago.  Whether the energy drink is good for your health or bad is beside the point I am about to make.

  I decided that the 4 or 5 dollars that I was spending daily for that energy boost could be spent in a much more beneficial way!  I really didn't need the energy rush that I got from Red Bull, but I must say I liked it!  What I ultimately decided is that I wasn't showing myself or my money very much respect.  Lets just go low end and say that I was spending 4 dollars a day.  This was also a 7 day a week practice.  So by spending 4 dollars a day, 7 days a week for one year, I was basically throwing $1,460.00 into the garbage can (or into the toilet...literally). I had the habit for at least three years and maybe more.  So take that $1,460 times three years and I have now thrown away $4,380.00!

  I did this without thinking much about it.  This was also not my first habit.  Before Red Bull it was Monster, and before that it was Diet Pepsi.

  To think what I could have been doing with these dollars in terms of Education, self improvement, etc!  I am sure that there are other things in my life that mirror this exact situation.  I am working hard to identify them and give myself and my dollar the respect that we deserve!

  Becoming aware of your prosperity opportunities will help you identify all kinds things to you that you previously just skipped by without a thought or a care.  We are born to be prosperous!  Now did you just here that knock at the door?  It's opportunity......go let him in!

-Walt

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   As we continue our discussion on prosperity, we really get into those little things that make the biggest statement.

  The path to prosperity and wealth really begins with respect.  How much do you respect yourself?  Let me explain:   When you go to the grocery store and you are waiting in that checkout line to pay for your purchases, what are you looking at?  Well, if your like me you are checking out all of the magazines and miscellaneous items for sale.  With my twenty plus years in retail, I can tell you that those items are very strategically placed to inspire you to make an "impulse" purchase.

  This moment in the checkout line is a moment of truth for us!  How much do I respect the two or three dollars that a gossip magazine costs?  When you arrived in the store, you obviously did not come in for that magazine.....but there it is.  Calling out to you with the promise of the inside scoop!  Now you have a choice. Purchase the magazine and basically throw your three dollars in the garbage can.  Or.....invest that money into your own self development, education, or health!

  This moment of truth will send the ulitmate message to the universe!  I either respect myself and my wealth and my growth, or.....I just don't care!

  Begin today by making conscious decisions.  Most of these purchases that I have spoken of are impulsive and many times not conscious.  Raise you awareness level...apply the above analogy to any aspect of your life and you will be rewarded immediately!  Investments are all around us and often confuse us on which one is best.  Now you know........Invest in Yourself!

-Walt

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