What Is PRM? Part 2: Why Professional Relationships Need Their Own Category
Last week, in Part 1 of the What Is PRM? series, I introduced what I call the relationship continuity problem. Professionals are constantly meeting people and creating new connections. We attend networking events, join chambers, exchange business cards, scan QR codes, connect on LinkedIn, and promise to stay in touch. But too many of those … Read more
Before People Trust Your Technology, They May Need to Understand How It Works
Recently, I had a conversation with a potential Follow-Up Now user that changed how I think about technology adoption. She understood what we were building. She understood why professional follow-up matters. She could see the potential value of a system designed to help professionals manage relationships more consistently. But she still was not completely comfortable … Read more
What Is PRM? Part 1: You Don’t Have a Networking Problem
Every week, professionals walk into networking events looking for opportunities. They shake hands, exchange business cards, scan QR codes, connect on LinkedIn, and have conversations with people they genuinely want to know better. A real estate agent meets a mortgage professional. A financial advisor talks with a business owner. A consultant discovers a potential referral … Read more
Beyond the Connection: Why Professional Relationship Management Is the Next Business Category
Over the past three weeks, we have challenged a familiar assumption about networking: Connections create opportunities. They do not. Relationships do. A connection is an introduction, a name in your phone, or a profile in your LinkedIn network. A relationship is built through trust, context, consistency, and mutual value. That distinction matters more than ever. … Read more
The Relationship Operating System:
Why CRMs and LinkedIn Aren’t Enough You meet someone at a chamber event. You have a meaningful conversation, exchange contact information, and leave with the sense that there may be an opportunity to collaborate, refer business, or help each other grow. Then the event ends. The business cards disappear into a drawer. The contact is … Read more
Why Relationships Are Becoming More Valuable Than Ever
For years, professionals were told that knowledge is power. And for a long time, that was true. The people with the most information often had the greatest advantage. They knew the right strategies, had access to specialized expertise, and understood things others did not. Today, that advantage is changing. Artificial intelligence can answer questions in … Read more
Relationship Intelligence:
Why Your Professional Network Should Get Smarter Every Day Most professionals don’t have a networking problem. They have a relationship management problem. Every week, ambitious business leaders, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and consultants attend networking events, exchange digital and physical business cards, connect on LinkedIn, and promise to stay in touch. Those initial conversations are packed … Read more
The Relationship Economy:
Why Your Network Isn’t Enough Anymore. For years, we’ve heard the same advice: Your network is your net worth. There’s truth in that statement, but I believe it’s incomplete. Simply knowing a lot of people doesn’t create business. Relationships do. Every referral, partnership, introduction, speaking engagement, and client opportunity begins with someone who knows you, … Read more
Your CRM Is a Graveyard: Why You Need Relationship Intelligence Instead
Outline Your CRM Isn’t Broken. It’s Just Looking at the Wrong Thing. Most businesses buy a CRM expecting it to strengthen customer relationships. Instead, they end up with thousands of contacts, stale notes, outdated phone numbers, and reminders nobody follows. A CRM is excellent at storing information, but storing data isn’t the same as understanding … Read more
Why 91% of Professionals Never Follow Up After Networking Events (And How to Be the Exception)
You leave a networking event feeling energized. You met great people. Had meaningful conversations. Exchanged business cards. Connected on LinkedIn. For a moment, it feels like your business is about to take off. Then tomorrow arrives. Emails pile up. Meetings fill your calendar. Life gets busy again. That stack of business cards sits on your … Read more