Unearth the joy of real connections & relationships

Thanksgiving is upon us this week. It’s a time of family and togetherness, of giving and being thankful for who we have in our lives. One of the things I’m most thankful for is the personal connections and relationships I have in my life.

I recently read the book No Limits by John Maxwell. In it, he explains that we all have core capacities, or abilities. One of my dominant capacities is relationships. I’m really good at building and growing relationships and seeing the potential in each relationship I have.

A few months ago, I got word that some of my team members in Illinois were hosting a picnic. Our businesses are so digital, they wanted to meet one another and connect in person. We often meet one another in much, much larger settings, like leadership retreats, Super Saturday events and summit and it’s really difficult to connect with individuals there.

I saw this as an opportunity.

Don’t get me wrong, I struggled with the decision to go because it meant leaving my family for a short time. For a picnic. But I was able to arrange my trip so I would only be in Chicago for literally 24 hours. And I made sure that I could maximize my time while I was there.

It was a whirlwind, but it was also an amazing trip. Rather than take an Uber to the picnic, I asked one of my team members to pick me up from the airport. We had a nice hour-long drive to the event, where I met about a dozen people–both team members and their families. I was able to mingle with coaches I didn’t know well and meet their children. And, even better, in establishing these deeper connections, I could learn more about the coaches and how they can grow their businesses based on their unique talents.

I spent the night at another coach’s house, so we spent the evening together catching up. She took me back to the airport the next morning and I was on my way home!

My takeaways for you are this:

• People will show up better for you when they know and trust you.
• It’s easier to work together and to see the potential in others when you build that close relationship.
• Even though we live in a digital world, it’s absolutely essential to step away from the technology and meet others in person.
• The more time you spend with others, the more real you become. And the more invested they are in you and your goals (and vice versa).

I encourage you during this holiday season to get out there. Help others. Meet others. Interact. Build relationships. You could meet up with someone you haven’t seen in a while. You could reconnect with a family member. Or you could arrange a get-together with a group of friends who don’t get in the same room with one another often enough.

Whatever you do, remember the power of relationships and give thanks for the loved ones you have in your life.