Rich Fri€nd$
How many of us have them?
There’s a price to get in where you fit in. No matter if amongst a high school cafeteria or professional networks.
The setting to a lot of cultural norms are shifting. Much professional research in journals are filled with vast information on how we’ve entered a “new age”(mentality) about a lot of things. Think about it. Everything from religious practices, consumerism patterns, farming regulations, even human-to-human interaction and relationships are different from that of just 2–3 years ago. Everything is changing at rapid speeds! How we treat one another is what I want to focus on. One thing I’ve observed from cultivating certain relationship is how much people are keeping track of what you do for them, professionally speaking. Certain industries do not call for personal relationships to be a fundamental, unlike sports, business, entertainment or media — where you are going to need seriously creative interpersonal skills, networking and a lot of charisma to stand out.
Take note.
In the beginning, there is this tit-for-tat energy when it comes to service and professionalism. Then, this really weird thing happens when the tit-for-tat gets boring and immediately the relationship changes. You know what I’m talking about:
“Well, since they did this for me, I have to do this for them,” turns into energy that drains every thing from creativity to the pockets. One week, brands team up to “take over” but following months later, those same teams are falling out because of something personal. What started out as dynamic investment turns into a lemon. The boundaries of friendship and business-partner are getting blurred with every RT and co-sign shoutout from the person who is only doing it to get noticed, rather than make a change. Is it me or are people calling each other friends solely based on what they can do for them? What is a “friend”? Can an investor just be a “rich friend”?
So things get tricky. Here is a “friend” who needs $5k for the his/her startup, and all one needs for their entrepreneurial venture is an extra pair of hands. No, the collateral isn’t fair but it’s enough for motives to be (over)analyzed and build tension. Its like one must have money to show their entrepreneur friends support. Because unless you buy their services, or products, then they won’t consider it support and begins to question the friendship. Fickle? Definitely. Tragic? Not one bit. It does, however, place a weird resistance and energy on cultivating an organic relationship genuinely and sincerely. No one wants to be around anyone who makes money matters the elephant in the room either.
How much someone invests in you has little to nothing to do with whether or not there is a friendship.
It has everything to do with how you treat others on your way to building a successful business. Character is what drives investors to serve the brand or product at their highest capacity because investors know a positive character is worth more than money. Too often do I bear witness to unfavorable character from brand ambassadors, entrepreneurs and people who personally represent their brand. To only, later down the road, notice them avoid someone as a sale because they know they didn’t leave a positive impression. So what happens? Those same people remain within the small network of friends and family to contribute to their success. That’s a red-flag for future and potential investors because they are going to want to know, “Why?” From observation, and learning from my own mistakes, there’s an interesting pattern in how relationships (thanks to social media and careless exposure) are tainted by juvenile behaviors, detachments of responsibility, and lackluster enthusiasm. People are using each other simply because they have:
- money, cars, clothes
- social clout
- connections with celebrities, social media “big” names
- access to certain networks
- even just to tweet the “check your DMs, bro” tweets for more followers.
And then calling it friendship once the invoice clears. That’s not professional, or even cool.
“How you treat people is their karma. How you react is yours.” — Wayne Dyer
Rich friends, rich in mindfulness and are not afraid to be an outlier, provide checks that you can actually cash. Investors aren’t the only ones allowed to be rich friends, but people who care about their friendships or business relationships check up, check in and check you when you’re slipping. Not confusing this for lying and it surely doesn’t apply to any “yes-men,” out there. Relationships of any stature require a healthy balance of spiritual awakening from both participating parties. I firmly believe people have to know themselves and want to be better than themselves in order to motivate those around them.
Benefits to having rich friends:
Genuine Exchanges, Positive Affirmations, and Sincerity
That’s a better investment than money can buy, especially as a creative just starting out with very little money. Positive words of affirmation are proven to destress and harmonize the chaos within every creative, entrepreneur, and leader. The truth is, when starting any business, money is tight. Rich friends understand that when you cannot go out because you’ve spent the last dollars on building your website. Instead, rich friends offer affirming words that encourage, motivate, and inspire. Or at least guide to adopting a mindful practice of speaking positively.
They Know The Best Currency Is….
My richest friends are infectious to the people around me. They motivate me to constantly exude positivity, and to make sure I value every exchange in a loving way. Love for self is where it starts because without it, all relationships are aimless. Accountability and vulnerability are the two keys to how long a friendship last, but also two important keys to acquiring an investor. You don’t have to care too much for the next person, or next customer, to make them feel important. It’s not that deep to be kind. You don’t become some naive positive person if you simply mind your business, literally. Make sure your business is always setting the standard and leading by example.
Rich Friends Elevate You
They don’t copy what you are doing, or try to keep your in the same lane forever either. The “why rock the boat,” comments, although harmless creates a false ceiling and people who are mindful in their industry/marketplace know how murky waters breed shady business. The sharks of the world know there is someone out there looking to take their spot, so instead of providing advice, *in my best DJ Khaled voice* [they] are looking for a way to hinder your progress. The same thing happens with people we call our friends begin to become too opinionated about the direction we take with our lives. Jealousy, fake enthusiasm, and sarcasm are ways people hide their true feelings and distract others from calling them what they are: haters. Rich friends know one thing: It’s a divine interference to elevate you. People will come and go as they please, but those who stand the test of time understand that if they are not elevating you, they are simply in your way.
The people around me hold themselves to standards that I admire and aim for myself. It’s easy to be myself around them, without making creative exchanges awkward, or ill-mannered.
— Tweet me @HonduranQueeen
