"Did the money finally drop?"
"Not yet."
"Jim, when last did you call your parents sef?"
"What kind of question is that, Mike? Are they not my parents? Shouldn't they be the ones checking on me?"
"No vex, guy, but you mean to tell me that aside when you need money, you hardly call your parents?"
"Jim! Everyone is busy, don't disturb me."
"What about the babe you spoke about a couple of weeks ago, still talking with her?"
"Which one, the one that ran away after the dinner I spent so much on? Or which one sef?"
"Yes, that one, you will have to take heart on that. Jim, how many friends do you have?"
"You, Kunle, Dami D, Ace wire, ehm ehm."
"Asides from me, how many of them can you go to for actual help?"
"How will I go to Ace wire for help, na Yahoo boy na, this your questions don to dey plenty."
"Exactly, asides from me and a few other people, your choice of association is quite poor."
"You think it's easy just to cut off these guys?"
"I know it isn't easy, but the way you position yourself would determine what kind of people come to you."
Mike locks his door, "I want to let you in on something not everyone knows."
Mike looks around calls Jim closer.
"To have long-lasting friendships, you have to give value and build that relationship over time."
Many times we make the mistake of pursuing wealth while focusing on money. We fail to recognize that wealth goes beyond money and that relationships are an essential part of getting wealth.
There are times we monetize relationships, getting close to people because of the financial value they can offer us. This should not be building a long-lasting relationship rests on one giant beam.
Value.
What value do you bring to a relationship as a friend? Are you one that only takes and takes from a relationship without offering anything in return? Are you the kind of friend no one can rely on for any type of help when the need arises?
Being valuable can take different forms. Are you valuable as a person when it comes to your character? In essence, are you a good person? Can you be there when your friends need you without having an ulterior motive for being there? Some friends are valued for their skill, others for their emotional stability, others still because of their interpersonal skills in relating with others.
And then, there are people whose value in a relationship is directly proportional to what they can get from that relationship. They only reach out if something is in it for them. These people hardly have friends who will go out of their way for them.
Five essentials for building the right kind of relationships.
1. The small things matter
You don't have to wait till you buy cars for your friends before you do something for them. A simple gesture such as a call could be what they need at a time. Don't hold back from those small things.
2. Give time to your relationships.
It might be a couple of minutes a day or the whole day, but giving time to get to know your friends is an invaluable part of keeping valuable friendships. It helps you know who your friends are and how to be a better friend to them.
3. Cultivate relationships without biases.
Sometimes biases prevent you from making valuable friends. You heard a rumor and based your relationship with a person on that rumor; you are most likely doing yourself a disservice. Get to know people before giving up a chance at being friends with them, and this will lead to number 4
4. Get to know people first before calling them, friends.
Often people mislabel people around them. Those they ought to consider as acquaintances they tag as friends, and those who should be close friends they do not treat with so much value. This often happens because many do not have a clear intention behind their friendships.
5. Different friends are for different purposes.
Not all your friends would give you financial advice; it does not mean they are not valuable. Some friends have a singular purpose in your life; others would be there for all times and seasons; sometimes, identifying the purpose of your friendships would determine how well you manage them.
In conclusion, being of value is essential to long-term friendships, and having good friends often determines how you turn out in the long
run.
What do you need to do then?
First, evaluate yourself; second, consider your friends around you. Do you need to change friends? Do you need to gauge what relationships you call friendships?
