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Prospects, colleagues, and friends: there's no confusion
Why the "how do I treat each one differently" question misses the point entirely
Zvi Band
February 10, 2026
I write weekly about the strategies, habits, and tactics around cultivating the connections that matter to you.
People love asking me how to navigate the differences between business prospects, professional relationships, and friends. Which approach for which category. What's appropriate when.
To the extent that people would actually trust anything I say, here's my proposal: who cares?
The lines are blurred anyway. Your prospect becomes your client becomes your friend. Your college buddy needs exactly what you sell. Your colleague's spouse works at your dream company. The paint has been mixed. Fighting this is exhausting.
The counterintuitive insight? Treat all three the same.
Your business prospect has kids, hobbies, a Netflix show they're embarrassed to admit they love. Ask about those things. Your professional relationship wants to know you see them as more than a LinkedIn headline. Your friend has career goals and people they're trying to meet. Be curious about that too.
The approach is identical: genuine interest in who they are beyond whatever label you've assigned them.
I know someone whose best friend was a client first. Many of his close friends started as business connections. He says it never felt weird because the relationships were built on actual compatibility, not transactions.
That's the secret. When you treat everyone like a potential friend, the ones who become friends feel natural. And the ones who stay "professional" don't feel neglected because you were never treating them like a means to an end.
What to do about it
For your "prospects," ask what they're reading or watching. Get off the pitch.
For your "colleagues," remember something personal. Their dog's name. Their kid's college applications.
For your "friends," ask what problems they're solving at work. Who they're trying to meet.
Notice how similar those are. That's the point.
The people in your life want to be seen as whole humans. So do you. Treat them accordingly.
Until next week, Zvi
P.S. Turns out prospects are just people in disguise.
Feedback is a gift! What did you think this week? |
Ever walk into a coffee chat or dinner and suddenly feel like the other person is “a big deal”? In this video, I’ll show you a simple mindset shift (and a hosting tactic I use) that helps you stop comparing and start connecting like a real human.
Topics we cover
Why we put people on pedestals and how that quietly blocks real connection
The “forget the resume” mindset for meetings, emails, and networking
My dinner rule: why I don’t share attendee lists (and what changes because of it)
How pre-judging people (good or bad) creates awkwardness and comparison
A quick mental trick to humanize anyone when you feel intimidated (yes, even “what are they having for lunch?”)
You can see all my videos and interviews on my channel! If you find these helpful, I’d appreciate a like, subscribe, and share with a friend, colleague, or enemy.