Put your relationships first.  No matter how smart, savvy, and wonderful you may be at closing the deal or buying just the right media mix, all of that only affects the present .  Your million dollar sales campaign will end in 3 months.  Your star summer media plan will get praise from the bosses then be replaced by some Q4 stunner time and time again.  However,  It’s the amazing people you meet and the relationships that you nurture along the way that will stick with you and bring you continued success 5, 10, even 20 years from now. Those people will make your network grow as they also move through their career and up their own ladders.   Pay attention to the folks in the room who don’t make the decisions, they’ll likely be holding your fate in a few years.  People do business with the people they most enjoy being around.  If you stay genuine, caring, and trustworthy to your clients, partners, and vendors , they will not forget it – or you.  

-Rachel Klausner, Innovation Interactive