Success Advice
7 Relationship-Building Tips from NY Times Bestselling Author Keith Ferrazzi
I recently had the pleasure of connecting with best selling author, entrepreneur, and speaker Keith Ferrazzi, one of the pre-eminent thought leaders and experts when it comes to professional relationship-building.
For those of you who don’t know Keith, he is the New York Times bestselling author of the modern-day classic Never Eat Alone, as well as the author of the bestselling book Who’s Got Your Back?, former CMO of Deloitte (where he was the youngest CMO of a Fortune 500 company), and former CMO of Starwood Hotels before he eventually broke out on his own to start Ferrazzi Greenlight.
These days, he’s helping some of the top companies around the world achieve hard results by teaching soft skills such as relationship building, change management, and supportive coaching, and he’s also making waves with his brand new book, Never Eat Alone: Expanded and Updated, which is available and brand-new as of this week!
Using lessons he’s shared with over half a million readers of the original version of Never Eat Alone, combined with the new insights he’s included in the expanded and updated version of the book, Keith has kindly shared with us 7 of his relationship-building tips that you can use to advance your career on and offline right now.
1) Be The King (Or Queen) Of Content
Those who are super-connectors in their professional and personal lives seek to provide value to others. Whether it’s through sharing lots of relevant industry content and being a learning resource to many like James Altucher, Gary Vaynerchuck, and other successful people have become, or it’s through transparency with your “trade-secrets” that have helped you achieve certain accolades to date, showing your humanity and being of service will result in more meaningful connections for you and your business.
2) Learn To Love The Fringe
In today’s day and age, connections you make online via social media are inherently less “close” than ones you make in-person. However, if managed and utilized properly, this can be a blessing in disguise, as a large, distant network can become an extremely value source of information and opportunities that wouldn’t have been as easily available even just a decade ago.
3) Join Conversations Before You Start Them
Good connectors know when it is valuable to listen and show genuine interest in other people rather than talk and expect others to go out of their way to hear them.
Don’t always jockey for attention, expecting everyone else to flock to you in order to discuss what’s on your mind; instead, join in the discussions others are having on and offline and show sincerity in their concerns and needs while contemplating how you can share knowledge or value in helping them.
4) Don’t Keep Score
If you want to build real connections, it’s never just about getting what you want. It’s about making sure you selflessly provide value to others so they achieve in what they aspire to do as well. There shouldn’t be a “favor trade”, and help shouldn’t be a bargaining chip. Helping others – without keeping score – should be something you want to do in order to make the people around you better and be of service, and as a byproduct, others will naturally be more inclined to help you in the future after you’ve helped them.
5) “Ping” Constantly
Always be reaching out to your network in small, casual, and friendly ways. Whether it’s through sharing a funny meme, an inspirational quote, or inviting someone to join a dinner party (or a workout, meet-up, etc.), constantly reaching out to your network will strengthen bonds you have already while keeping you top of mind with others so that, when an opportunity or potential introduction arises, they automatically think of including you in some way.
If you wait until you need something before getting back in touch, you’re in for a rude awakening.
6) The Best Online Filter Is Offline
The strongest social network relationships begin (or grow) with a face-to-face meeting.
The best connectors get out of their desk chairs and actually go out and meet people in the real world. Only then do they send the friend request or boost their online engagement with that person.
7) Never Eat Alone
I feel obliged to end with this tip from Keith given that it’s the name of his books, but it is also probably the most important one. Just like feeding yourself food, you need to feed your relationships by always keeping them top of mind and working daily to improve them. Making and cultivating relationships your connections can’t be something you only do when you manage to find a little free time. More than ever, it needs to be your #1 priority if you want to distance yourself from the crowd and get ahead in life.
Many, many thanks to Keith Ferrazzi for being kind enough to share these tips with us, and check out his new book, Never Eat Alone, Expanded and Updated: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, out this week!

Feature Image By: Techonomy Detroit
Success Advice
11 Mark Manson Lessons That’ll Redefine Success in the Digital Age
Success in the digital age isn’t about hacks, it’s about the raw, real lessons Mark Manson actually lives by.
In 2016, Mark Manson released The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, a brutally honest, thought-provoking book that redefined self-help for a new generation. (more…)
Change Your Mindset
The Secret Daily Routines Behind History’s Most Brilliant Thinkers
Uncover the daily rituals and hidden habits that powered history’s most brilliant minds to success.
Why Daily Rituals Matter
Every great achiever has one thing in common: discipline. Behind the novels, inventions, discoveries, and masterpieces are small, consistent habits repeated daily. (more…)
Did You Know
How to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub
Transform your forgotten bio link into a high-impact gateway that fuels engagement, clicks, and conversions across every social platform.
Social media is one of the greatest marketing tools in 2025. According to a recent study, some 86% of marketers globally use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for advertisements, while 94% use it for content distribution. (more…)
Personal Development
These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident
Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.
Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.
But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.
Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.
1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task
Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.
After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.
Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.
But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.
2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First
Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.
Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”
For example, if you’re a writer:
-
Research your topic at night.
-
Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).
-
Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.
You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.
3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace
Focus is the foundation of success.
According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.
Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.
Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.
4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life
Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”
This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.
If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.
5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills
Knowledge compounds over time.
Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.
I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.
Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.
6. Develop a Growth Mindset
Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.
-
A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.
-
A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.
Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.
7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You
I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.
If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.
Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.
Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.
8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions
Good mentors can fast-track your growth.
While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.
If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.
9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations
Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”
Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.
When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.
10. Focus on Your Strengths
Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.
If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.
A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.
Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.
11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs
Your beliefs shape your reality.
For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.
Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.
Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.
Final Thoughts
Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.
Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.
-
Entrepreneurs4 weeks agoThe Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025
-
Change Your Mindset4 weeks ago7 Goal-Setting Mistakes That Are Secretly Sabotaging Your Success
-
Success Advice3 weeks agoWhat Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)
-
Success Advice3 weeks agoWhy One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)
-
Business2 weeks agoThe Entrepreneur’s Reading List That Transforms Ideas Into Empires
-
Business2 weeks agoWhat Every Fitness Business Owner Needs To Know About Relocating Their Gym
-
Personal Development2 weeks agoThese 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident
-
Did You Know1 week agoHow to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub



