1. Don’t use people
Never call upon people only when you need something. If you haven’t called someone for months, even to just say hello, but the minute you know they can help you, you give them a shout, that is not cool. My first thought when I see certain numbers on my phone is: “I wonder what this person wants from me now?” You never want to be that person in someone’s phone book.
2. Offer help first
You should always offer your help or services first! The minute you offer help or your services I promise you that phone call won’t seem so awkward. Always take care of the people who help you out, do it any way you can and no matter what.
3. Invest in your progress.
If you have to spend money to make a long distance call just to talk about an opportunity, make it happen. If you have to drive out of your way and spend money on gas just for a potential opportunity, make it happen. If you need to get on a plane just to connect with someone for 5 minutes, do what you have to do. Too many people decide not to make that call, or take that trip and that can be a life-changer. I myself have gotten on planes just to make a meeting happen. I knew the opportunity had the potential to be great, so I made it happen. (It never worked out mind you, but it was still worth the personal growth.)
4. Don’t hide behind emails or text messages.
If you have to call someone to talk about something, make it happen. It is really easy to say: “Oh I sent you an email and I never heard back from you.” Connect with people face-to-face or on the phone. Too many times people rather send you an email of bad news, or even send you an email to avoid talking to you, or just to say they reached out.
5. Be generous
Share your time, thoughts, ideas and things.
I’ve noticed the people who decide to be greedy and keep everything to themselves lose the most in the long run. The more you give, the more you receive, it is just the law of the universe. If you get two give away one, it is as simple as that. Sometimes if you don’t have, still give what you can. Don’t be greedy, share. There is enough of everything for everyone.
6. Don’t be annoying
Allow things to happen organically, which means give it its time. If something is urgent you are always more than welcome to follow up and you have a right to be persistent, but don’t become a bother. It is easier for someone to cut you off than to put you on.
7. Don’t abuse your friendships or put people in compromising situations.
Never put people in a situation where you put their back up against a wall, they will start to despise you. Don’t ever namedrop a friend’s name or bring a friend into a situation that he or she has nothing to do with, especially in business. Some people will use your name in order to make things happen for themselves, that’s not cool. You know those kind of people: “Hey I know so and so make this happen for me?”
8. Don’t abuse the power of social media
We are all part of social media networks for different reasons, so it does not mean we want to be spammed or bombarded with your music of your new projects. There is an etiquette that needs to be followed. When you are constantly @’ing people who don’t even follow you about your projects, you are doing yourself a great disservice. They start to hate everything you stand for and will never give you the shine you are looking for. Don’t constantly promote your projects on other people’s Facebook walls, that is the most annoying thing you can do, especially since a lot of people use Facebook as a personal media network.
If people choose to follow you or be your friend you have every right to promote your projects on your respective side, but don’t start abusing the people who have not subscribed to what you are doing.
9. Be respectful
You never know who is going to be who, or who you might need to call upon, or do a favor for, or even work for, so always be kind and respectful. The person you might shit on might end up being the person who opens or closes a door for you.
10. Become a person of your word.
No one likes excuses, even the most compelling ones. If you say you are going to do something, like make a phone call, submit a project or pay someone, whatever it may be, try and stick to what you say! People put a lot of stock in what you tell them, so you don’t want the reputation of someone who is unreliable.
People love working with people that they can depend on and that are reliable. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you are not reliable you are worthless.
These are just some of the rules that I try to abide by. They have been extremely instrumental on my journey to success.
