Capital can come in many forms. The obvious one is cash...you can't get too far without it. "Emotional" capital can be equally important and should be treated as such. Emotional capital comes from your relationships (I am referring to business related relationships in this post). Those friends and colleagues that you can call on in a time of need or opportunity can sometimes be more important than cash.
To build up your Emotional Capital you need to work on your relationships. You need to be there for people and become an asset to them. It might be as simple as sending an article to them periodically, letting them know you are thinking about them. Technology makes this process easy (instead of mailing an article in a magazine you email the link).
Use LinkedIn and Facebook to keep track of friends and business associates (some of my best clients are my Facebook friends!). You can view their status updates to see what is going on in their lives and find opportunities to help. Still think you are too much of a loner to network? Read the article from my friend Shari Alexander about Networking for Introverts.
Relationships and Emotional Capital require the same discipline as saving money but luckily there are tools to make it easier. You can't discount the additional returns outside of business that cultivating relationships can bring! I've used both Facebook and LinkedIn to connect with new friends and reconnect with people I haven't seen in 30 years. While I am sure they would help in any way I asked...the personal enjoyment I have received is priceless.
Happy Selling!
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