How to make yourself indispensable in local organizations

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Why will people you know socially send business your way or set you up with some really good referrals?  There are many reasons.  They might really need exactly what you provide.  Maybe they are considering several providers and decide they like you as a person.  Here’s a third reason: You are helping on a project that’s important to them.  They want to reward you or at least retain you.

Here’s a real-life example.  My wife and I knew a (now deceased) real-life philanthropist who owned a thriving business.  He had a favorite local charity.  One day he told me about a financial advisor who served on the charity’s board.  He told me about the great things the advisor had done as a volunteer and about the impact his efforts made.  He concluded with “I decided to send my retirement plan over to his firm as a thank you.”  Regardless of whether it was the company plan or his own plan, it was a big plan!