Building a business is ALL about relationships.

You thought I was going to say grant seeking is all about relationships, didn’t you?

Well, that is true too, but that’s another post (ICYMI: Word of the Year) for another time you want a best practices post.

In my 21st year of owning and operating DH Leonard Consulting, I can say with certainty and lots of conviction that relationships are what have made my business grow and thrive over the years.

I haven’t paid for ads. I’ve built a referral network focused on connecting people, and it helps fill our pipeline as well as others’.

I haven’t always been the lead on the project. I’ve built collaborations with trusted colleagues.

I have, however, had a diagram of circles radiating out from DH Leonard Consulting, with the different circles representing key relationships and partnerships for the business. The relative size of the circles has ebbed and flowed over the years. Some circles that used to be part of the diagram have now morphed into other shapes and connections. A few new circles are relationships I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams 15 or even 10 years ago. The visual and the ongoing return to it are most important to me, as they keep me focused on the fact that my business is built on relationships. On the trust I build with others, whether other businesses, clients, or colleagues.

Have you ever thought of mapping out your relationships, whether as a consultant or an employee? How do they impact your grant seeking? Your collaborations? Your approach? I’d love to hear. Let me know in the comments, or reach out to share.

ICYMI – This post is part of my 20-year anniversary celebration of DH Leonard Consulting. You can see the full list of 20 things I learned in my 20 years of business here.