Did you just relocate to Las Vegas? Are you finding it difficult to establish meaningful relationships? Is it becoming a challenge when meeting new people, and finding out that they are already connected to who they need to be connected to, making it nearly impossible to offer the service or product that you are marketing? Or, are you a longtime resident and struggling to make new contacts as you attempt to expand your professional network?
I was in my late 20s when I decided to make Las Vegas my new home. I was born and raised in Silicon Valley, and the glitz and glamour of Sin City looked appealing from afar. At the time, I was a business development banker, and worked in the financial district in San Francisco for over a decade. I purchased an 800-square-foot condo and my mortgage payment and association fees were nearly $3,000 a month. My then-fiancée (now wife) and I were looking for some financial relief. When I left the Bay Area, I felt like my relationships in the community were strong. I had a very intimate circle of family, friends and business contacts around me. So why was it that I struggled during my first 15 years living in Las Vegas? I wanted to build solid relationships, and I always left empty-handed.
As a commercial lender and business relationship manager, my responsibility to my current firm is to actively solicit and service prospective entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. This includes producing a variety of commercial loans, as well as generating and managing a portfolio of business and corresponding relationships, while seeking new accounts through calling efforts, marketing and referrals. This responsibility is something I don’t take lightly. I have always been passionate about people and playing this role while serving my community is something that I really enjoy. Securing friendships with the local commercial and nonprofit space is just icing on the cake.
I do have to admit though that Las Vegas caught me by surprise, initially. This town has a big city feel with small town vibes — everyone knows one another, it is a close-knit community. Looking back, I remember wishing that I had taken a crash course in relationship building in an area like Southern Nevada before I decided to embark on a banking career in this new city, where I struggled to cultivate meaningful relationships. In this article, I hope to share some of my key takeaways about how you can obtain meaningful relationships. I want to make myself clear, though, before I begin. I have been in business development and relationship banking for nearly 30 years. Building genuine connections fosters trust, opens doors to collaboration and enhances overall well-being. Personal connections can positively impact both professional and personal aspects of life. My hope is that this sparks a conversation on building robust community relationships. Strengthening our bonds fosters unity, collaboration and a supportive environment for everyone.
There are three things that every relationship should be based on. These are three things I wish I had known when I relocated here in 2004. I attended many random events gathering as many business cards as possible. I remember at the time sitting in my car in the parking lot after the event ended with the intent of emailing every person I met on my Blackberry. It was a standard message. “Great meeting you,” I would write. “Let’s stay connected and I’d love to grab a cup of coffee with you in the following weeks.” Although this sounded pleasant, it rarely gave me the results that I was looking for.
Keep it real
This leads me to my first recommendation around building impactful relationships. Just be real and be you. Be purposeful – You are an interesting person. It might make sense to determine what your personal brand is first. I recommend asking yourself, “What makes you different from your peers?” Creating your personal brand is important in a city,…
Read More: A guide to mastering the art of impactful business relationships in Las Vegas