When you’re self employed, you learn very quickly the importance of connections—even the ones you assume will have no value to you.
Recently, one random connection turned into a few thousand dollars worth of ad revenue. He approached me and said, “I have some people who want to advertise on your sites. Let’s hook it up.”
I liked the guy and had some good conversations, but I assumed that was as far as our working relationship would go. And I was okay with that. But then he brought all this business to me out of the blue. That’s the power of relationships: Even when you aren’t trying to get something out of them, you inevitably do.
It’s always been a big principle in my life to make relationships for relationships’ sake. As much as possible, I’ll never dismiss anyone—even if they’re rude or unlikeable. My goal was never to leach stuff from the relationships. But when you invest in people, they invest back.
Even though I believe firmly in the “no burned bridges” principle, I’ll be honest; there are some bridges I’m perfectly willing to burn. There are some people I’m rather eager to dismiss. And while I won’t actively damage a relationship or reject an individual, I’ll be quick to distance myself from these types of individuals.
Who are these people? They’re the discouragers. The chronic critics. The negativity-filled nitpickers. The ones who offer “helpful corrections” to the things you post on Facebook. I have no room in my life for people who put my down or bring me down.
Circumstances are discouraging enough. The obstacles you encounter on a daily basis are more than adequate to keep you in check. You have no room in your life for those who bring you down.
Seek out encouragement. Be encouragement for others. But clear the negativity away. You don’t have enough time in your day to deal with that.