Building solid relationships is the key to a happy and successful life. That is why it is so tragic that one in ten relationships is held together by the humble Post-it note. Today's frantic lifestyle means that many families are so busy going to one thing or another, the only way they get to communicate is by leaving a note on the door of the refrigerator. This is hardly the way to either establish or maintain a solid relationship. Folks, one of the prime methods of establishing and maintaining a solid relationship is good two way communication. A Post-it note hardly even rates as one way communication.

The same thing holds true for business relationships. You have to have clear, meaningful communication. You have to realize that cultivating business relationships is not like cultivating turnips. You do not throw some seeds into fertile ground and then go away until you want to harvest something. You have to talk to the other party on a regular basis. You have to build trust.

That is why building business relationships is often referred to as networking. You interact with the other party. You exchange ideas and solutions. In this way you get to know the other person and they get to know you. Once you trust each other, doing business with each other will naturally develop. The development of network approaches that can embody such integrated "compound" trust relationships is currently a topic of much debate in the blogosphere. Unlike traditional businesses, online business people seldom meet face to face. Some of the more established online business people may, but the smaller businesses have to make do with telephone calls, video conferencing and e-mails. Building any relationship is a lot of work, but building a trusting relationship online is very hard work.

Building excellent relationships is a habit, and it produces wonderful rewards. I can tell that you are not quite sure what that means. When you are building a relationship make mental notes on what works and what does not. Continue using the things that work until they become habits. Once they become a habit you will do them without thought. They will become part of your daily actions. When this happens, you will be thought of as warm and caring and as a result, building new relationships will become easier. People want to be around warm and caring individuals so your popularity will soar. You will be invited to parties that you would never have been considered for before.

Creating business relationships will become easier too because your habits will carry over into your business. Also word will travel quickly that you are a person worth knowing and doing business with. Your ability to develop and maintain long-term customer relationships will form the foundation for your success as a salesperson and your success in business.

Managing working relationships is clearly a complex and difficult process. One of the key factors determining the success of working relationships is not whether there are any conflicts or differences, but how they are dealt with. Because you have learned what works and what does not, you should be able to deal with any problems more easily. Communication is the key. Make sure that everyone understands what is expected of them and that all, including you, do what is necessary to ensure the relationship survives the conflict or difference.

Developing and maintaining relationships is a life-long commitment. Nothing remains static. You are either going forward or you are going backward. Make sure you go forward. Going backward leads to oblivion.

The quality of your relationships will be a major factor in the success you achieve in life. Make your relationships strong and your actions honorable. Never betray a relationship for to do so is to destroy your credibility and your future.

Building trusted relationships is key to understanding the real business transformation being ushered in by the Internet. Less than ten years ago, very little business was being done on the Internet and most business people considered it a fad. Now, there are billions of dollars worth of business being conducted on the Internet. By building trusted relationships with the Internet movers and shakers, you can ensure that you know what is going on so that you can position yourself and your business in the right place to take part in the new business world.

In summation, to build good relationships, you have to be friendly and open. You must make it clear what you stand for. Always be fair in all interactions. One of the most underrated skills is listening but a key way of strengthening relationships is to take time to truly listen to people and learn what they really want. Try different approaches and make note of which ones work and which ones do not. Practice and polish the ones that work. Put your ambitions and prejudices secondary to creating lasting relationships. Try to make all interactions win - win situations. Do not be afraid to try someone else's approach or plan as they may produce better results than your own. Always be in a learning mode and build those relationships relentlessly. Your future is in the relationships you build and very possibly one of those relationships will make you into a millionaire or even a billionaire.

About the Author

Gilbert Griffiths helped thousands of people during a professional career that spanned more than 39 years. He learned the Ultimate Lifestyle Secrets of the many successful people he dealt with. If you would like to learn these Ultimate Lifestyle Secrets go to http://www.rockettosuccess.com and sign up for his FREE newsletter. While there, read his blog for more exciting free information.