Lesson for Young Executives: Relationships Unlock More Than Business ~via Bob Kilinski
I had the good fortune of meeting Bob a few years ago via Jonathan Watson and the Evergreen Trading Advisory Board. This post perfectly represents who and what Bob stands for in business and his personal life. It resonates so deeply with me. Relationships are the true currency... in business and in life. Skill and strategy open doors, but trust, listening, and genuine connection are what sustain them.
This story is such a powerful reminder that the ROI of relationships goes far beyond business outcomes. Itโs about growth, perspective, and becoming better humans through the bonds we build. /Ted
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ: ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
Early in my career, I thought success came from skill, strategy, or being the smartest in the room. Over time I learned the real key is relationships. They unlock doors nothing else can.
A few years ago, my wife and I welcomed two refugee boys from the Congo into our home. The goals were simple: help them finish high school in a safe environment and give them all the support we could to make them successful. What I never expected was how much they would end up teaching me.
Because I approached them the way I approach business relationships, with patience, listening, and trust, they eventually opened up about their lives. Those conversations werenโt easy for them, but they created a bond that changed all of us.
They found opportunity, safety, and confidence. We found a new perspective on poverty, gratitude, and a reminder that connection is the most valuable currency in life.
My advice to younger executives:
- Donโt chase transactions, build trust.
- Donโt just focus on what you say, focus more on what you hear.
- Remember that the ROI of relationships isnโt just business and leadership growth. Itโs also personal growth.
๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐. ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐. ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ.
#Leadership #Networking #ExecutiveAdvice #CareerGrowth #Trust #Mentorship #LifeLessons
