Orrin Woodward on LIFE & Leadership

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    Former Guinness World Record Holder for largest book signing ever, Orrin Woodward is a NY Times bestselling author of And Justice For All along with RESOLVED & coauthor of LeaderShift and Launching a Leadership Revolution. His books have sold over one million copies in the financial, leadership and liberty fields. RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions For LIFE made the Top 100 All-Time Best Leadership Books and the 13 Resolutions are the framework for the top selling Mental Fitness Challenge personal development program.

    Orrin made the Top 20 Inc. Magazine Leadership list & has co-founded two multi-million dollar leadership companies. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Board of the LIFE. He has a B.S. degree from GMI-EMI (now Kettering University) in manufacturing systems engineering. He holds four U.S. patents, and won an exclusive National Technical Benchmarking Award.

    This blog is an Alltop selection and ranked in HR's Top 100 Blogs for Management & Leadership.

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All Business is Relationships

Posted by Orrin Woodward on November 9, 2012

I have learned many things over the twenty years of running my own businesses—in areas as diverse as finances, marketing, leadership of people, and management of the numbers. However, I believe the number one factor in building a successful enterprise is relationships. Tell me how a company consistently treats its people—inside employees, outside vendors, and its customers—and I can predict the longevity of the firm. Simply stated, all business is relationships; therefore, a person will never develop a following until he develops some people skills. In the video below, I teach some key points to remember when working with others. Of course, no one is going to make everyone happy because some are only happy when they are unhappy. 🙂 Nonetheless, people skills are essential when working with the right people to build long-term relationships.

I am thankful for the long-term relationships I have built over the years. In fact, some of them are going on twenty years of successful relationship building, namely, Chris Brady and George Guzzardo. Many others are over a decade, and my goal is to find the right people and serve them for life. At the end of the day, isn’t that the goal of compensated communities—to build lifetime win-win relationships? Like Jim Collins said, “Get the wrong people off the bus; get the right people on the bus; and get the right people in the right seats on the bus. I believe the success of the LIFE business is directly attributable to following Collins’ advice. Here’s the video.

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

40 Responses to “All Business is Relationships”

  1. Chad Sutkay said

    So true Orrin, what I love is LIFE has so many fantastic resources for continued education in the arena of strengthening and building solid relationships!
    God Bless,
    Chad

  2. Dolores Martin said

    Orrin,
    Jim and I are so thankful for the lessons we have learned and continue to learn in the area of Relationships because of Leaders like yourself and Tim and Amy Marks, Bill and Jackie Lewis, Chris and Terri Brady and so many others. The Life Business has been the Launching Pad for us to give this back to others. Thanks for that
    Dolores Martin

  3. I am so glad I am on this bus! I am so thankful for all you have done for me and my family! Thanks Orrin

  4. Maura Galliani said

    Relationships — good relationships — are everything. Without them there is nothing significant that lasts … personally and professionally. What you have to teach us about building strong, lasting relationships is much; and the chapters “Friendship” and “Conflict Resolution” from your book “Resolved” are a good place to start for anyone with the desire to improve and keep their relationships. Thank you for mapping out that “minefield” for us, Orrin, and for always showing us by your good example … fired up!

  5. TJ said

    Orrin, another home run!! I love how you plainly give now practices that help me in my life. Its easy to see these are not just techniques but real answers on how to help yourself be humble as you add to some one else s life. A true win win. Thanks for the effort you put in blogging, it has really impacted me for the better.

  6. Jim martin said

    Great post Orrin I have done my share of gorhing and found that loving people and trueley wanting them to successed was a better way to fixing the problem. Thanks for all you do

  7. A business of any type, would be very wise to take this council. I have seen the negative effects of this, as we’ll as the positive. Relationships are everything, and I have learned so much following you Orrin. I am amazed at your ability to teach skills like this.

  8. Renee Oettinger said

    I too needed to learn (and still need to work on) having the tact to help others without offending them. Thanks for leading.

  9. Matt Mielke said

    Wow, what a great video! I wish I learned this principle long ago, it would have saved me years of frustration. Thanks for sharing
    Matt

  10. jimmy varghese said

    my best friend is my mentor. the people in my tap i consider family. there is something beautiful about pursuing a worthy goal/cause. Orrin, the LIFE business has taught me so much about relationships that even since the financial gain hasnt happened yet, the value i have recieved from this education i consider priceless. the LIFE business has mastered FRIENDS category for me. Great post and thank you for standing against mediocrity!

  11. Relationships are the glue that holds us all together!! Thanks for reminding me!
    Bless you and your family!!
    Nicole Porter

  12. Alex Obiden said

    Just understanding that quote, “Get the right people of of the bus, and get the right people on the bus,” means everything. One of the questions i have to ask myself is, “if i applied the same observation criteria to myself that i do to all else who are on the bus, would i be one suggested to stay or to leave? And, what position on this bus do i want? Am i playing my part to achieve it?”

    Thanks, as always, Orrin the blogs continue to get better.

  13. Oh boy, do I agree! We must first build relationships based on trust, integrity, respect. Listening skills are critical to building rapport and trust. Then, the work of maintaining relationships must begin. That’s where many people fall behind.
    Barbara Jordan
    AdvantEdgeSuccessCoaching.com

  14. Jenny Salter said

    Thanks for the reminder that relationships are what get you through thick & thin, in business and in life. As always thank you for your GREAT leadership!!!
    Jenny

  15. Tennyson Heen said

    Part of the decision to go for Triple Power Player, is to help those helping us to go single double or triple power player as well themselves. We have to nail the rotation part of the plan down. We need to keep breaking new power players, not just us being power players. That will be our TEAM effort to bring to the TEAM. Triple should then just be a by-product of doing what needs to be done. While constantly working on ourselves to get better tomorrow than we were today.

    This attacks our debt, their debt and all involved. The big Finance elephant in the room, it gets downsized & outsourced. But, by attacking this we are setting ourselves up to get our dreams fulfilled as well. This is the better way, we just need to execute the plan(system).

    We have made many new and great friends and will continue to make and meet many more new ones.
    Seeing the examples of our direct uplines: Chris/Danae Mattis, Roger/Laura Sitcler, Venkat/Lynda Varada great crossline example Jim/Shellie Jones. Great immediate examples, replicating from what you and the PC have established.

    It is great to be here at this time, thanks!
    How do groups get built to stay – through being relatable and on trust. Albert Maglines has been there from the start w/me and we will build the depth necessary to sustain and strive to be the examples for our teams and the people they bring on, because they are a part of us. We are still working closely together.

    Teams are a reflection of their leaders and we will be responsible for that. Rah rah is good, but it still comes to the bottom line are we doing the actions that we are asking others to do. If so, then they will do as we do, not just as we say.

  16. Hilary Dorr said

    Thanks for the reminder to start off by letting them know how I’ve failed in the same category. It just makes sense that they would be more receptive after knowing that I’ve made the same mistakes. This is a very important step in the building relationships process. Thanks Orrin!

  17. The relationships that are formed in LIFE/TEAM are incredible. Thanks for the article and all that you do.

  18. John HATCHELL said

    In the immortal words of our young folk “true dat” All cornerstones of life rest on this premise, starting with HIS relationship through HIS son Our Lord and Saviour!!!!

  19. Chrissy Fleury, E4 said

    you said, “my goal is to find the right people and serve them for life”. what an incredible goal. sounds a lot like the example Jesus set- and through it, changed the world. more important of a time than ever for us to do the same.
    thanks to you and laurie for all you do to serve all of us. looking forward to making more and more good on that trade.
    chrissy, E4

  20. Christine Fuller said

    AMEN brother.

  21. Michael Stithem said

    Once again you are spot on. Having good relationships is key.

  22. Cassie Morgan said

    I couldnt agree more!

  23. John Lewis said

    Great article Orrin. Appreciate your leadership

  24. Tim Samuels said

    Thanks for the great post Orrin

  25. Eben Smith said

    thanx for your Orrin

  26. Amen Orrin. Never realized how important building relationships were until I started building a community. The community will never last without the positive relationships attached. I am blessed to have such incredible bonds with amazing people. Thank you for being the best example at building relationships.

  27. robert wilcox said

    “It is often better to be reminded than instructed” … What a great example of Leadership and getting the point accross with the story! Thanks for reminding me there is a better way to help people while still keeping the ego intact and keep the hope alive for a growing Leader or anybody who wants to better themselves.

  28. Orrin, thank you for sharing so many great principles to help us grow closer as a Team! We look forward to so many great times in the years to come.

  29. Kristine Militello said

    You and Laurie are the masters of building relationships because you love and serve continually and unconditionally! Thanks for all you do!

  30. Duncan said

    Solid relationships make a difference!

  31. Don and Jan Fallis said

    Orrin: One of the most profound statements that has impacted me came from George Guzzardo. The year was 2008, and there were about 12 of us sitting around a table. George Guzzardo was one of those 12. He was just answering questions. The question came from a person at the opposite end of the table from George. “During times of confusion, do you ever wonder just what to do?” George looked at everyone at that table and made this statement that I will never forget and it has been the battle cry for me EVERY SINCE.

    “15 YEARS AGO I JOINED ORRIN WOODWARD. I MADE THAT DECISION ONCE AND FOR ALL AND KNOW THAT IT WAS THE BEST DECISION THAT I HAVE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE. THERE IS NEVER A TIME OF CONFUSION FOR ME, FOR I WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW ORRIN WOODWARD.”

    Yes indeed we are in a Business of Relationships. You and George and the rest of the PC live by example.

    Thank You
    Don and Jan Fallis

  32. Anthony Nieto said

    You are absolutely right about this Orrin. That is why you are one of a kind because you recognize this. This is one of the best talks for any corporation.

  33. Tim Jarvinen said

    Fired up fired up!

  34. Anna Walsh said

    The LIFE Business is invaluable to me. Thank you Orrin!

  35. Carrie Canniff said

    Thank you Orrin, for setting a great example!

  36. Very on point topic! It’s rather interesting that this, let alone people skills/human relations isn’t really taught (at all?) in corporations, and, seemingly (at all?) in academia. We are very fortunate and privileged to be able to build and bond, listen to the ‘How to Build Relationships’ CDs & grow in this area with LIFE 😀

  37. Great post! Thanks for sharing!!

    Neal

  38. Chris Robinson said

    I’ve learned over the years that true relationships have to come from the heart. Thanks Orrin for your example of how to build true meaningful relationships.
    CR

  39. Kim Decker said

    Orrin,
    This is so true, we all can over come it. Freindships and long lasting ones are whats important and learn how to build them is the key. Thank you for a great post.

  40. zoran mitrovski said

    Thank you for teaching me how to protect other person’s ego by sharing our inadequacies. Totally appreciate that.

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