One thing I’ve found to be irreplaceable in life is the network of friends around you that you go to for support every day. My all-time favorite Bible verse is 2 Peter 1: 5-8, which directs us on how to lean into each other and grow in the Spirit together towards a better relationship with our Creator. Back in 2019, I went through a period of unemployment. It was one of the most, if not THE most, important events in shaping my career trajectory. At the time, my wife and I had a 3-month-old son, and losing my job was one of our biggest fears as a family. So for about three months, I sought out those in my network of friends, colleagues, and those I looked up to spiritually for advice about finding a new job. I had countless phone calls, breakfasts, lunches, and meetings with people that took time out of their busy days to meet with me and talk about my situation. Ultimately, it was my family and network of relationships that helped me land on my feet again.
I’ve interacted with countless industry professionals in my career – from manufacturers to economic developers, from teachers to doctors, and from engineers to constructors. Though we all have different tasks day-to-day, the common theme is that we all need to lean on someone for help at one point or another. I’ve found that having a network of people that you can call on at the drop of a hat in a time of need is critical to surviving.
I’ve found that having a network of people that you can call on at the drop of a hat in a time of need is critical to surviving.
Relationships start through many channels: from cold calls to networking events, there’s no telling where a relationship will take off. Over the last 18 months, I’ve reflected on why relationships are so vital to me and some of the qualities present in the relationships I have today. When was the last time you asked yourself, “who do I still count on to deliver the results that I am looking for?” Has the answer changed from before the world shut down? If so, how truly deep was that relationship in the first place?
At Isomer, we have built a people-first culture – this is true of our team internally and extends to the customers we serve and all others we interact with daily. We are passionate about providing first-class service that meets the exact needs of our customers. Here are a few of the characteristics I’ve found that are critical to keeping a relationship going through the ups and downs of life.
- BE TRANSPARENT – We are all human. Life happens. The most important part of a relationship is to be open and honest. When problems come up, those close to us are the ones that we should be able to reach for help. Who else is guilty of playing out a situation in your mind for how the other person will react in a situation, only to be pleasantly surprised when you tell the truth? I sure am!
- BE INTENTIONAL – Reach out to your contacts, ask them how they’re doing. Check-in with them often, not just about work. Set a meeting to get coffee to catch up about life, as we’ve all been through some crazy times recently! Being intentional about getting together shouldn’t always include having an agenda. Let the conversation flow and lead to topics you never know will come up.
- BE RESPECTFUL – Treat everyone you meet as though they are the most important person you’ll speak to today. I learned this principle from my parents growing up – it has been something that I’ve engrained in my mind since I was a kid. You’d be surprised at what happens when you show someone this level of respect. Try to put yourself in their shoes and seek to understand what’s going on in their world!
- MAKE A DIFFERENCE – We all have God-gifts that we practice on any given day. Use those gifts to help those around you. Strong relationships start when someone makes a significant, sometimes life-altering, impact on another person. Sometimes this can be as simple as being available and listening well during a time of need. Can you look back at a life event and remember who was there to support you? Do you have someone you’d say the same thing about in business?
- CELEBRATE EACH OTHER – We all love to win. I can say that I love seeing those close to me succeed as much as I love to achieve things myself. Supporting successful contacts in your network is fundamentally an excellent thing for your own personal mindset. Share the positive vibes – they can be contagious!
I can say that one of the most important lessons I’ve learned through my career is that we all have NO idea about what is going to happen tomorrow. The only things that we can control are how we carry ourselves, how we react when faced with adversity, and how we help those around us every day. So, ask yourself now, “What steps am I going to take to build lasting relationships post-pandemic?”
About Isomer Project Group
Isomer Project Group exists for one purpose - to help bring great ideas to life. We have the experience of best-of-the-best EPC organizations but the fresh ideas and passion of a tech startup.
Founded in 2020, Isomer Project Group is based in Greenville, SC. The company is anchored by partners who together have successfully managed more than $2 billion in industrial projects across multiple markets - many of them representing first-of-a-kind technologies and processes. The firm plans to continue growing its team of engineers, project managers, and other professionals to support clients looking for an innovative approach to project execution.
Nothing gets our team excited like a good challenge. Drop us a line at contact@isomer.group or give us a call at (864) 565-9100 to connect and find out how we can help bring your idea to life.
