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Never Eat Alone—Why Relationships Are Your Most Valuable Asset

"Dad, isn't that more like dating or hanging out than working?"

My 15-year-old daughter, Brooke, caught me off guard during dinner last night. I shared some highlights of my week. I had two dinners with entrepreneurs, three lunches, several coffee meetings, and even a 'business walk."

She's right; it sounded more like hangouts than work.

Maybe that's precisely how it should be.

How Networking Has Evolved (for the Better)

The way we build business relationships today has changed. Do you recall those busy networking events? Everyone rushed to share their business cards or cocktail party quick chats. Thankfully, that era is dead. Post-COVID with way less in-office or even companies having an office the meeting place has moved.

Now, relationships develop through deeper, more intentional conversations. Longer coffees, longer lunches, or casual walks help us understand a person’s ideas, challenges, and goals.

These aren’t meetings—they’re conversations.

"Great business is less transactional and more relational. Curiosity and genuine connection open doors."

Every interaction builds your brand.

Here's why this matters: whether you realize it or not, you're always selling yourself. Your reliability, follow-up, and punctuality show how you’ll behave in business. Even quick replies to emails or texts matter.

This week, we evaluated a new vendor. Technically, they scored highest. But their CEO and sales team repeatedly missed their own deadlines. Their slow responses didn't inspire confidence. If that’s how they handle new business, how would things go after they sign us?

Every interaction counts. First impressions—and second ones—can make or break opportunities.

"Small actions leave big impressions. You're building your reputation with every interaction."

The “Never Eat Alone” mindset

One of my favorite books is Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. It reminds us that our best asset is relationships. Every lunch, coffee, or quick walk can teach you something new. They can spark ideas or help you reconnect with someone important.

This past week, I learned something from every conversation. I talked to an entrepreneur starting a business in a new market. I also reconnected with someone I hadn't seen in years. It reminded me of one essential truth:

"Spend time with interesting people, and you'll always learn."

Final Thought:

It's easy to dismiss casual chats as "just hanging out." However, they can be some of your best investments. Every great partnership or idea starts with an authentic conversation.

Never underestimate the power of relationships.

Keep building, keep learning, and never eat alone.

Grok-3 is changing real-time sentiment analysis.

If you haven’t checked out Grok-3 yet, it’s impressive. I've used Perplexity a lot for real-time info. But now, Grok-3 is quickly becoming my top choice for real-time and controversial news. Grok-3 is different from regular searches. It doesn’t just give simple facts. Instead, it offers quick and balanced sentiment analysis on complex topics in real-time. It feels thorough and current. It’s handy when you want info about something happening now.

Here's a quick look at Grok-3 analyzing sentiment about its own release.

I've started to do more long form podcasts/interviews. First couple out this week and linked below.

-kevin

Stay ahead in AI & tech! I really enjoy Techpresso a daily newsletter with fresh news/topics. Quick, sharp, and always relevant. I typically don't like daily but this one always has at least one thing I wasn't aware of that I find interesting.

Recent Social Posts

Kevin Henrikson @KevinHenrikson McKinsey just revealed the extinction-level threat to business: Only 1% of companies have mastered AI technology. Early adopters are seeing 370% returns while others fall behind. Here's what's about to happen to the other 99%: 6:30 AM • Feb 27, 2025 83 Retweets 514 Likes Read 29 replies

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Kevin @kevindegods In 2006, one man wrote a memo that destroyed his career. Silicon Valley blacklisted him. Yahoo executives mocked him. Wall Street ignored him. Then Yahoo collapsed exactly as he predicted. Now he's back with an even bigger prediction: 7:0 AM • Feb 25, 2025 1738 Retweets 10309 Likes Read 257 replies

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