I read an article recently about a book that came out a while back (note:  I didn’t actually read the book – just the article about the book) that started some good thought and conversation amongst the group here.  Not sure but I think the book is called something like “Love is the killer app” or something like that.

In essence, it had to do with the idea that sales – or business in general – is built on principles that go deeper than simple transactions and that if you can open up business relationships to operate on the same level as your personal relationships (or at least the good ones), then you have a platform for doing all kinds of great things together – not the least of which is selling.

What does this have to do with anything?

There is this section of the Bible that talks about being blessed by basically un-blessing yourself.  That is to say, you gain more when you give more (I’m doing some big-time paraphrasing here).

Seems to me that if you peel back the first couple of layers of any well-branded company or product, you’ll find something in there that looks generous.  I’m thinking now of several of our favorite brands and, at least at first glance, there might actually be something to this beatitudinal thing as it relates to building long-term customer relationships.

Hmmm…

(more on this whole idea in subsequent posts – maybe even with examples!!)