Second Commandment: Extend the Network of your Connectedness to Many People

This is adapted from a Jewish Rabbi Daniel Lapin who wrote the 10 Commandments for Making Money.

Second Commandment: Extend the Network of your Connectedness to Many People

1. Learn to develop New Relationships

This will help you succeed not only in Business but also in other aspects of your life. Try to win friends, not in order to influence people for your benefit, but for the sheer joy of forming and maintaining human relationships. Paradoxically, only in that way will you stand the best chance of enhancing your life.

2. Don't try to make Connections in Specific Forums, such as Job Networking Meetings

Try to meet people in other ways - at church, at synagogue, or in your health club. Work to build these relationships. Talk to these people and make reasons to communicate, whether through notes or through e-mail.

3. Learn how to relate to strangers with the sincere warmth and interest that turns them into friends

Everyone senses when someone's interest is not sincere. Trying to give other people what they want only to get what you want does not work very well in the long term. Somehow people sense the ulterior motive. Perhaps it is an air of desperation that you exude. On the face of it, the Second Commandment advises you to build genuine and sincere relationships with as many people as possible with no thought of reward. Beneath the surface, it informs you that, paradoxically, reward will follow in proportion to the lack of self-interest you projected while forming the relationships in the first place.

4. Make sure all your friends and contacts know that there are ways you could help them and that you are eager to help them

Traditionally, Jews have been quick to identify their occupations. This obviously makes it much simpler for others to make contact for business purposes. It may be partially responsible for Jews acquiring the reputation of being forward and aggressive in business. Letting folks know your occupation benefits everyone and need not be obtrusive or obnoxious.

5. Choose carefully those with whom you do business

"The customer is always right" is not true if you don't want to keep that particular customer. Don't feel obligated to meet the wishes of a demanding client if ultimately you don't want to be in business with that person.

6. Find joy in serving others

Either you believe that another human being is worth being served by you, or you don't. If you do, then you can risk your life to save his, or you can go down on your knees to help him try on a new pair of shoes. If you don't think much of other human beings, then you are never going to be much good at customer service, and you will probably find other shortcomings in your life, too. The secret to learning how to love serving others is to develop the character trait of humility. It will win you many new friends and delight all your old ones.

7. Be predictable, and you'll be seen as a professional

Everyone is moody on occasion, but you shouldn't let your emotions take control of your professionalism. Most customers and clients would prefer working with someone who does not display an entirely new personality on each occasion. Success in business means getting on with people. If you really are to succeed in business, it won't be because people think you are smart; it will be because people like you.

Contributed by:
Steven Wong
Charisma Assembly