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It astounds me when meeting entrepreneurs for the first time their method in relationship building is to sell me on their services.  This is  a turn-off and literally antisocial.  The root of relationship is relate.

Here are a few tips that have worked for me.  Please share what works for you.

1. A first meeting is a discovery. Can you establish some common ground, common interest, human connection or chemistry? If you are not interested, you are probably not interesting.  Listening is a very endearing quality.

2. When someone markets to you, take a cue from social networking and see where you might be of assistance.   If you find a way to help them they will appreciate it and think of you fondly.  If there is chemistry, they will also like you. If they like you and you have extended yourself, you have just established the beginning of a relationship.

3. When you reach out to someone and they respond with their sales pitch I usually run because they don’t get it. If you feel there is a real person beneath their automatic setting, dare to be cautiously honest. If this cracks the door open you can begin an authentic dialog.  If it doesn’t your blink was on target.

4. Humility counts. It is not at odds with confidence.

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