Ideally at the start of a new year, I try to reach out to old customers, clients and friends.
Over the last 20 years, running a small business, I would say about 80% of my Customers have become long time Clients and about 20% of my Clients have become good friends.
It's something that happens as we go through life. Our kids are about the same age so we connect there. Our parents are arriving at ages where we have to start caring for them so we connect there. We tend to show up at many of the same events, another connection. Naturally you gravitate to a familiar face. The next thing who know we are inviting each other to our homes.
Business will continue to be a formal agreement outlined with different terms and certain expectations. Customers are dime a dozen and some Clients are meant to become friends which sometimes turns into something else altogether. Friends are to be nurtured, grown, protected and treasured.
This is something that I realized as I was having a business meeting this morning with a person who,18 years ago, started out as one of my few customers and a couple of years later became an excellent Client and now I consider this person a close friend.
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