Your partners hate you

Or maybe they don’t hate you, I don’t know.

But when’s the last time you took stock of your relationships?

That’s right, we’re gonna go deep 😏

Relationships are not the byproduct of your business

They are the business development strategy.

Talent Harbor built almost its entire business through referral partners, growing from $0 to over $200k in monthly revenue over the first 18mos.

So how do you build relationships so they become your most valuable growth channel?

So swipe right on Raya and let’s get…intimate.

Be generous, you stingy bastard.

If you are always thinking about giving first, not only are you setting the foundation for great relationships

You’re also increasing YOUR value

Here’s the rub, though

Don’t think about your value… actually, don’t think about yourself at all

Think about how you can help others.

Not telling you to be a good person

(I tell myself that all the time)

But if you chase results, you’ll fall short

I believe it was one Sir Paul McCartney who wrote

“And in the end, the value you take is equal to the value you make”

(or something like that)

They like long walks on the beach…

They can always make you laugh…

And you could stare into their eyes forever…

No, no.

Not that! 

These traits:

✅ Access - they should have the prospective client access to the pain point that you’re trying to solve. 

✅ Credibility - they need enough influence and ability to solve for that pain point, BUT

✅ Complementary - they aren’t in the business of solving for your business concentration.

Finding credible and complimentary partners who have direct access to the pain point you’re solving for, not only creates great individual relationships, it will also help you find

(check out this sweet transition)

great ECOSYSTEMS to operate in.

(woooh, that was tight)

Leveling up, and going beyond the individual partner, think about that pocket of partners, and ask yourself, can I help this ecosystem thrive?

(Quick, pretend I sound like Sir David Attenborough)

The business operator

In search of a partner

And a home

The operator seeks a symbiotic relationship where everyone benefits 

without competition

And the ecosystem

thrives

But there are more questions, like, is this a good fit?

Does this industry, field, or group, fit my core values? 

How do they network? Is there opportunity to be included and have access to the larger whole?

People are people

We’re simple beasts, and we love attention and validation

(I know I do. By the way, I’m great, right? Right?)

So part of developing quality relationships is reaching out early and often

Keep them in the loop.

Wait.

Before we go further, I need to make a CONFESSION 🤫

(see what I did there?)

Early on with Talent Harbor, I made a boo-boo

I assumed our referral partners were too busy for updates  

Imagine doing a favor for someone, and then not hearing back from them for months 🤦‍♂

💡Surprise insight: The incentive is NOT the secret

Super secret tip, so I’m going to whisper it right into your lovely ear-hole 👂

It’s not about the money, referral fees, or kick-backs 

Great referral partners are discovered by being genuine and authentic, you silly goose

I sit down with my wonderful co-founder Elana Burr, and we chat with…each other 😂

(I know, I know. A podcast about referral partners and we can’t even get a referral partner to do it. It’s gonna be great though. Just listen) 

There was a time where I almost gave up on my own podcast - Confessions of an Implementer

(queue sad but thoughtful music)

I thought, who am I? What am I even doing here? 

6 months and no results. 

But then…nope. You’ll just have to listen below, because

In this recorded couples therapy session we explore

🚀 How Talent Harbor built almost its entire business through referral partners, growing from $0 to over $200k in monthly revenue

📚 Being a “Go-giver” (shout out Bob and John, The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Power Business Idea)

🗑️ And which one of us takes out the trash

(spoiler: neither of us takes it out. It just sits in the corner and spoils)

Listen to the full conversation here 🎧

I already feel us growing closer

Like we’re really building something here

I guess what I’m trying to say is 

I’m here for you 

and I’ll be back next month 🤝

Hugs and kisses

To your sales success— whatever you're confessing to 🚀

-Elana & Ryan
Find Elana On LinkedIn 
Find Ryan On LinkedIn

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