Selling - at its core - is not a business transaction. It is first and foremost the forging of a human connection.

Think about it: everybody you know, everyone that you meet, also know about 250 people. So every time you cultivate a relationship with one new person, you have actually expanded your personal inventory by 250 people - every single time.

By a network I don't necessarily mean your customers or clients. I mean a network of people who know you, like you, and trust you. They might never buy a thing from you, but they've always got you in the backs of their minds. They're people who are personally invested in seeing you succeed... They're your army of personal walking ambassadors.

Play the Reverse gossip game. See how many nice things you can say behind someones back.

It isn't just what you know, and it isn't just who you know. It's actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living.

Unless you are able to influence the way others think and act, your chances for success are limited.

Sometimes the most influential thing we can do is listen.