I get questions all the time from people asking how to grow a business in a recession or how to make more money in this tough economy. So, today I think it is very important for you and I to discuss the answer.

I have been in business for over 25 years. And I have to tell you — the same thing that worked for me when I first got started in business is the same exact thing that is working in this recession. It is the number one key to business: Relationship first and business follows.

Amateurs in this recession are the people who are always focused more on increasing their bottom line, and they couldn’t care less about anything else. They want to know the quickest possible way to make the fastest conversion. They are just after the money, not the long-term benefits of building relationships.

I want to tell you a funny story. My biological father, who I met when I was nearly 18, was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua. I was the first of all my dad’s children to visit there, so he was excited for me to meet my aunts and cousins.

One of my cousins is a cattle farmer and he wanted us to come out and see his farm. My cousin has been farming for over 30 years and he’s learning how to deal with the business side of it. He brought us out to his gorgeous 2,000 acre farm where he has about 300 head of cattle.

There were horse trailers there with the most beautiful horses I had ever seen in my life. There were 4 horses — 3 were stallions and 1 was a young mare. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a Paso Fino horse, but WOW! They have very thick necks and gorgeous manes and tails. These very spirited horses were trained, and they pranced around as if they were dancing.

My cousin, who only speaks Spanish, said to me (I only speak English), "Prima, prima! Aqui, aqui!" I didn’t know I would be riding a horse that day, so I was wearing shorts and flip-flops. Even so, I walked over and got on the horse. I’m telling you, there is nothing like being on a horse like this one!

With the help of my nephew as a translator, I asked my cousin, "Whose horses are these?" He said they belong to his friend (who happens to be a billionaire, and the second richest man in Nicaragua). He sent the horses and his ranch staff to make sure we had a good day at the farm.

I asked, "How much can we pay for these horses today? Can we pay the ranch hands? This is a very extravagant gift!" My cousin told me these horses were brought in from Spain for a big parade that was going on and his friend had invited me to ride one in the parade. I just looked at him and said, "Why is he doing this?"

My cousin told me, "This man is very successful, and he taught me something a long time ago: Relationship first, business follows."

Turns out, the owner of the horses also owns the most successful bank in Nicaragua and the number one car lot in Nicaragua. He understands the concept of relationship first and business follows.

Through my cousin and the horses, he was building a relationship with us. And through the building of this relationship, he also asked us to come out to his ranch for a big barbecue in celebration of us coming to Nicaragua.

What’s beautiful about this is the way this billionaire builds his business. Relationship first and business follows.

But most rookies in business start with business and neglect the relationship aspect of it. They just want to sign the deal, get the product in the customer’s hands, get the cash, and move on to the next quick deal.

But that is NOT how highly successful people do it. That’s not how my husband and I have become successful, and it’s not how the owner of the horses became a billionaire, either. Hans and I did business with another billionaire once and guess what — he focused on relationships first!

This works in ALL economies. You can take this one method into your business, your job, and your home, because if you honor people and establish good, solid relationships, then you will never have an issue with a recession.

That’s how I started out of the trunk of my car and a payphone booth. I was a homeless, overweight woman with no credibility and a bad reputation. But all I cared about was helping my clients have the best possible experience with me and my service. I made them feel great about themselves, and I actually listened to them when nobody else would.

I led with relationship, and within the first 45 days, I made $18,000. By the end of that year, I made a quarter of a million dollars. By the end of the second year, I made my first million. Through relationships, I have made millions and millions since then.

I have been teaching the concept of relationships first and business follows for over 25 years, and I’ve had thousands upon thousands of clients who have applied this principle and have gotten incredible results. I can’t wait to watch YOUR business flourish and YOUR bank account grow as you learn to build great relationships everywhere you go!

Take a minute to share this message with your family, friends, and co-workers today. You could be the one to propel them forward in their business, career, or personal life by just sharing this post on your social media pages.

In great faith,