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Relationships
The Financial Benefit of Investing in Relationships
Trust and connectivity can have a similar effect on relationships and finances.
Posted May 30, 2018
For a people person, there is no greater investment than a relationship. Forming a bond for these individuals is more valuable than dividends or financial returns. They will go to great lengths to prove their dedication and trustworthiness to others and create safety for those they care about, emotionally, financially, and otherwise.
A people person meets their needs through connections, and unlike money, often less is more. They prefer quality over quantity and it’s more important for them to form a fewer number of strong, intimate bonds than to amass a plethora of flimsy acquaintances.
With regard to money, these individuals tend to be careful and conservative, holding on to their pennies when possible. Waste creates neither safety nor good relationships. If their finances are depleted, their ability to help and connect with others becomes diminished.
If you resonate with these characteristics, your Avatar may be the Connector.
Let’s examine the strengths and weaknesses of the Connector, and look further into their relationship with finances.
Their Superpower: Trust
Forming relationships with others requires a concerted effort. You can’t acquire friendships in the same way as assets and the only currency that can be used to foster relationships is trust. Trust is the Connector’s superpower.
It is imperative for the Connector to demonstrate that they can be trusted. They will go the extra mile and then some in order to prove it. To a Connector, it is not only important that they are trustworthy themselves but that they surround themselves with others who display an equal level of credibility. The Connector thrives on strong, deep-rooted associations based in a mutual belief in one another. If either party’s belief is lacking, it erodes the foundation that the relationship is built on.
In the absence of trust, Connectors fall silent and withdraw.
Their Kryptonite: Waste
As with any great strength, we uncover an inherent, corresponding weakness. The Connector’s tendency is to stretch to great lengths to prove their trustworthiness. They are so determined, in fact, that they will go well beyond the norm to establish trust with others. Unfortunately, in most cases, their efforts hold diminishing returns. At a certain point, their hard work affords them no greater bond and they become pointlessly exhausted. Because of this, the Connector’s kryptonite is Waste.
If Connectors pay close attention, they can pick up on signs from others that they have exerted more than is actually appreciated. A telltale sign is a seemingly pleasant smile or a casual nod recognizing a favor or a job well done. It is often paired with, “Oh, thanks, that’s nice.” Pay close attention and you’ll find that this carries a subtle, disingenuous feel to it. Unrecognized, the situation quickly leads to expectations demanded of the Connector, to the point where their generosity is taken advantage of without their own realization.
Connectors should never let their kind demeanor turn into presumptions of performance.
The Connector’s Relationship With Money
The Connector treats their finances much like they treat their relationships: details matter. They want to know the ins and outs of an investment to verify that it is a sound, secure place to put their money. The source matters: who am I investing in? Where did they come from? What makes this a solid investment? If they can’t get validation from these questions, they’d rather take their dollars elsewhere.
The Connector is both careful and conservative. This can often mean losing out on what could have been sizeable returns for the sake of avoiding the risk all together. They would likely avoid Mark Zuckerberg’s famous advice, “The biggest risk is not taking any risk.” The Connector would be much more comfortable with Warren Buffet’s two rules of investing:
Rule No. 1: Never lose money.
Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1.
Key Takeaways for the Connector
1. Safety and security
The Connector seeks an environment of safety and security and struggles in situations that involve significant risk. Clear awareness can avoid this pitfall and improve relationships with everyone.
2. Less is more
The Connector views relationships and the financial world in the same vein: less is more. The Connector focuses on a small number of strong relationships and would rather place their assets in fewer, more stable investments. This gives them the sense of security that they crave in all circumstances.
3. The devil is in the details
Connectors value numbers. The numbers paint a picture that they understand. Numbers don’t lie. Numbers spell out the understanding they require before investing. Numbers can be trusted.
Connectors build safe havens for the rest of us and many of us shine brighter because of that. We can all benefit from their trusted efforts and they deserve our utmost respect and genuine appreciation.
