Building a Relationship Flywheel in an AI-Driven World
Been thinking a lot about the relationship flywheel - which is needed more and more in a world drowning in AI Scroll LinkedIn for sixty seconds and you’ll see a flood of “instant AI lead engines,” “zero-touch funnels,” and “hands-free pipeline.” Automation is great… until
- 1.
everyone automates the exact same way
- 2.
there is no human left
What still cuts through IMO? Humans who care and lead with kindness Sure AI can:
Draft a convincing intro email
Flag a prospect’s job change the same day it happens
Summarize a coffee-chat transcript into CRM notes
and now it can provide AI coaching and simulations that crush (more on this later)
BUT it CANNOT
Earn trust in a single handshake
Show they care
Remember your prospect’s marathon time and send them a congrats text on race day (ok maybe it can)
Make someone laugh on a rainy Thursday and think, “I like working with these folks” (not yet anyway)
That’s why warm intros and referrals still close 3–5 × better than cold. Relationships compound. Here is how i build a relationship flywheel that works
- 1.
Daily touch list - Five people in your ICP. One value-first note each. Article, intro, small win, etc. NO PITCH.
- 2.
Event stacking - Offer up a monthly “huddle” on Zoom, or an in-person dinner. Topic is whatever you are passionate about - others will share the passion. Put them in the calendar now and never cancel.
- 3.
Signal → gesture. ---- Birthday? Post a goofy GIF and mail a book. Funding round? Ship a bottle. Job change? Send a short LinkedIn voice memo or video chat
- 4.
Give > Get - Help - Review a deck, refine a pricing page, jump on a “quick” call. People remember who showed up.
- 5.
Close every loop with gratitude - Handwritten thank-you notes, thoughtful small gifts, a public LinkedIn shout-out. --- You would appreciate it if people did this for you. You would remember. Do it for them.
You can use AI to surface the moment so you don’t miss it, then be human.
