The Simple Power of Genuine Care

Welcome to all of you who have joined in the past few weeks. If you’re opening this for the first time, or you’ve been so engrossed in Succession that you forgot what this is about - I write weekly on insights and tactics around building an incredible network of clients, collaborators, and community.

If your work relies on relationships in order to succeed, I’ve seen clients transform their entire business through this single idea.

If you were to ask my seven year old how much she likes something (say, tacos), she’ll spread her arms wide to measure.

We may think that’s silly, yet we believe that deeper connections need grand gestures. If we want someone to value us, we have to do something biiiiiig… right?

A coaching client of mine shared they once spent hours searching for the perfect gift for a referral partner. He wanted to make an impression. What did he know about them? What would they like? What is something that shows “you’re unique and special to me.” In the end, he sent an expensive bottle of wine - because that seems like something anyone would at least see some value in, right?

A week later, he popped off a simple text to another contact, just checking in, asking how they were.

Guess which relationship flourished?

It actually doesn’t matter. Because both achieve the same result. Showing we care.

It's a testament to our intrinsic nature as social creatures; we crave genuine connection - much more than grandeur.

One took hours and a couple hundred dollars. The other, a few seconds. One takes real commitment and fits and starts, and the other can be done before your inbox dings again. One could be rejected (er, thanks, but I don’t drink anymore), while the other is universally craved - even among those who “have everything.”

Taking Action

So, how can you harness this power?

Start small but be consistent. Instead of springing for a long lunch, courtside tickets, or a bottle of whiskey, set a goal to send a spontaneous message to three people in your network every week.

A simple "Thinking of you. Hope all's well!" can make a world of difference. Over time, these small touchpoints compound, building trust and deepening connections.

Remember, it's not the size of the gesture, but the emotional connection behind it.

Have a great week.