In the Don’s Corner, we speak about things that will make us better, primarily from the inside. We focus on things like having a vision of who you are and where you are going. On this road to success, you will encounter people who can help you, or hinder you. Outside of yourself, life is all about relationships.
A ship is designed to take you somewhere. Whether it’s a friendship, guardianship, championship, or realtionship, it’s all about reaching a destination. The question is, where are your ships taking you? One of the Laws of the 48 Laws of Power (which was our inaugural read in the Don’s Corner Weekly Read) deals with the law of Infection. It essentially stresses the importance of the effects of the people you have around you. In short, if you surround yourself with winners , the chances of you becoming a winner will increase. If you surround yourself with losers, the chances of you becoming a loser will increase. So, it is imperative to be careful of the company we keep.
Another aspect of relationships is the process of building your social capital. Social capital is the manner in which your interactions with other people in society benefit you. For example, if you have a good rapport with a lawyer, then that is a positive investment on your social capital because everyone in this society could potentially need a lawyer. Even if you don’t personally need a lawyer, if someone you know does need a lawyer, then you can make a phone call and share your resource. In turn, that person can share their resource with you. More importantly, by doing that one gesture, you have proven yourself as an asset to that lawyer, and raised your social capital by a single phone call. Now, that lawyer will share some of his resources with you, and so on and so on. One important note about building your social capital: you do not do these things EXPECTING for the other person to pay it forward. Some may pay it forward, others may not. The universe will pay it forward for you. That is the essence of sharing. The key for us is to raise our awareness that we are building or destroying our social capital with every relationship we partake in. Which brings me to the next point.
Destroying relationships , or burning bridges can be just as important as building them. It is never good to burn a bridge, and since life is a recurring arc, every relationship is a potential bridge. That isn’t to say you cannot sever ties with a person; rather it’s more about how you sever ties. As the old saying goes, ‘the hand you shake today may belong to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow.’ So, when dismantling a relationship because it has no value to you today, always keep in mind that the winds of fortune could shift tomorrow. Be respectful, courteous, and kind. Who knows, that one gesture may increase your social capital.
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