How To Turn Relationships Into Potential Financial Gains

Re-establishing those bridges with the past can be a useful gauge of personal growth. For instance, I was reading an email that I got the other day from a classmate of mine when I was in nursing school. I hadn’t had any contact with this person since before we graduated. But the re-connection brought up memories of what I was like back then. I was just learning how to look at the world differently and starting to take action to change my life. After reading the email, I can see how far I’ve come, how much I’ve grown, and how much more I have. That’s the beauty of maintaining bridges. Not just for the social interaction or the fulfillment of interpersonal needs. Those are important and certainly add to personal growth. However, it’s the opportunity for self-reflection, introspection, self-monitoring of progress, and motivation to keep reaching your goals that are just as important in personal and financial development. These aspects often go unnoticed, unfortunately.

Financial Benefit

But if it is your goal to achieve a level of wealth or affluence, then maintaining relationships (as well as creating new ones) does have some advantages. For instance, former schoolmates of mine are now lawyers, accountants, or hold upper management positions at big companies. I can tap into those resources to form business venture partnerships with some, or look to others for information and advice. Because our relationships started off well in the beginning, and have been maintained (even a single email every few months may be adequate) I feel comfortable moving forward with my personal life goals; I know that I have support, in one form or another, and that allows me to keep myself in a mindset that is productive in nature. That is key to developing a life where you can, for example, make money in your sleep . It’s the mindset and perception of where you are and what you have for resources that motivates and nurtures you into being successful and feeling free. There is a mental safety net that you develop because of your intentional effort to maintain good relationships. That’s a good thing.

So give it a try. Call up some people you haven’t spoken to in years. Drop them an email and find out how they are doing and what they’re up to. Let them know that you are alive and were thinking about them. Be genuine with your words, and take the time to tend to those roots that need nurturing or repair those bridges that may have been damaged long ago. These actions could benefit you with financial rewards. It may not turn out as you had hoped, but then again many things in life are not guaranteed (successful relationships and money included). But at least they will know where you are or where you stand, and so will you.

The Writer is a retired psychotherapist, a registered nurse, and a budding entrepreneur.