Zvi Band

And now for something completely different! Happy to share that my new course, Relatable Foundations, is now live. This will teach you everything I’ve learned about cultivating the relationships that matter to your business, your career, and your life. Why now?

Most of us read The Giving Tree as kids and thought it was sweet. Read it again as an adult. It's devastating. The tree gives everything — her apples, her branches, her trunk. The boy just keeps taking. She never says what she needs. Until she's a stump. A lot of us are that tree. We show up to networking calls laser-focused on one thing: how can I help you? We give our time, our expertise, our connections. And never once mention what we need. That's not generosity. That's being incomplete. And it's robbing the other person of the chance to help you. Before your next conversation, have 2–3 specific asks ready. Real ones — not "I'm looking for new clients." Give generously. But don't be the stump. 🔗 Full newsletter: newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

Sometimes reconnecting is as simple as finishing that sentence you never sent. 🌸 Your people are closer than you think.

The most powerful person in the room? They burned their toast this morning too. 🍞 Before my first big VC meeting, I was sweating. Rehearsed pitch, pacing, full spiral mode. My mentor stopped me and said: "You know what they're probably thinking about right now? Lunch." That one line changed how I walk into every room. We turn people into myths. The investor. The CEO. The industry titan. We forget they woke up, argued with their kids, and are just figuring it out — same as us. Marcus Aurelius figured this out 2,000 years ago. And a children's book called Everybody Poops nailed it too. When you remember the person across the table is just human, you stop performing… and start connecting. This week's newsletter is about exactly that and 3 small things you can do before your next high-stakes meeting. newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

Most people try to “catch up” on their network once or twice a year. They open their contacts, feel overwhelmed, and close it again. A better approach is much simpler. Update one contact per day. Add a small note from your last conversation. Something personal you learned. A reminder for next time you speak. It takes less than a minute, but over time it creates a powerful advantage: Your memory of people stays fresh Conversations become more thoughtful Relationships deepen naturally Instead of scrambling every six months, your network stays organized all year long. Small systems create big relationship outcomes.

Remember those Zoom happy hours where everyone just… stared? We blamed Zoom. But that wasn’t the real problem. The real issue? Nobody knows what’s “safe” to talk about anymore. So we hover on the surface weather, work, small talk while secretly craving something more real. There’s a surprisingly simple fix. Full newsletter below: newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

few years ago, I kept trying to get in rooms with the “big names.” The people everyone wanted five minutes with. But the most meaningful relationships I’ve built? They weren’t with people at the top. They were with people on the way up. When you support someone before the spotlight finds them — make an intro, share an opportunity, encourage their work — you’re not networking for status. You’re building something real. And those relationships grow with you.

New feature drop 🔥 Your AI tools can now talk directly to your Relatable CRM. Working in Claude? Add a note about someone you just met. Using ChatGPT? Ask what follow-ups you have today. Any MCP-compatible tool? Full access to your relationship database. No tab switching. No copy-pasting. No lost details. Your relationships, wherever your AI is. Try the Relatable MCP

Prove you’re not a robot. That’s the new challenge in relationships. We’re drowning in AI-ish messages, so people don’t trust the message anymore — they trust the chain: who introduced you, who vouches for you, who’s real. A few “proof of human” moves I’m betting on: reference something specific switch channels (LinkedIn → text, tweet → email) add “no need to respond” keep it short Full piece: newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

Most people treat great connections like accidents. They wait for the “right moment.” The “random introduction.” The “lucky break.” But strong networks aren’t built on luck — they’re built on intention. Reconnect with someone you’ve already met (with a real reason). Host a small dinner and bring two worlds together. Spend time in rooms where the people you admire already gather. Relationships compound but only if you create the moments. What’s one intentional encounter you can create this week? 👇

The relationship hack hiding in your calendar app. In this week’s newsletter, I shared a simple story: My mother-in-law has had the same 7am Friday Zoom breakfast with her friends for years. Through COVID. Through moves. Through life. It stays on the calendar. So the friendship stays alive. The takeaway? After a great conversation, don’t just say “we should do this again.” Send the invite. Click repeat. That tiny decision might be the lowest-effort way to keep your best connections warm. P.S. Your dentist has better follow-up discipline than most friendships. Read the full thing here: newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

Would you lend them $20? And would they lend you $20? If the answer is yes both ways, there’s real trust there. That’s someone to invest in, protect, and prioritize. If it’s one-sided, the relationship may just need more consistency and care. If it’s a mutual no, it might not belong in your active circle. Not every connection is equal. Strong networks aren’t built on volume — they’re built on mutual trust. Who passes your $20 test?

Prospects, colleagues, and friends: there’s no confusion Why the “how do I treat each one differently” question misses the point entirely People keep asking how to navigate the differences between business prospects, professional relationships, and friends — what’s appropriate for each, what changes, what doesn’t. My take: it’s the wrong question. The lines are blurred anyway. A prospect becomes a client becomes a friend. A friend needs exactly what you sell. A colleague connects you to your dream company. Trying to keep these categories “pure” is exhausting. The counterintuitive insight? Treat all three the same. Your prospect has hobbies and a life outside work. Ask about it. Your colleague wants to be seen as more than a job title. Remember something personal. Your friends have goals and problems they’re solving too — be curious about that side of them. The approach is identical: genuine interest in the whole person, not the label you’ve assigned them. Because when you treat everyone like a potential friend, the relationships that deepen feel natural — and the relationships that stay “professional” still feel human. newsletter.bemorerelatable.com Read the full newsletter

Stop making people feel like they owe you something. I got ghosted after asking a friend for an intro… then reread my message and realized I’d basically assigned him homework. 😅 Here’s the counterintuitive fix: remove the pressure. Try adding “NNTR” (no need to respond) to check-ins: “Hey, thought of you this morning. Hope you’re well. NNTR.” And when you do need something, give them an easy out: “If it’s not a weird ask… totally fine if timing isn’t right.” Less obligation = more enthusiasm (and more replies). Full post in the newsletter 👇 newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

750 seconds. ⏱️ That’s it. Not a hustle. Not a grind. Just one message, one comment, one intro a day. Do that consistently and something wild happens: 👉 connections compound 👉 opportunities stack 👉 your network grows quietly in the background Big wins rarely come from big bursts. They come from small, daily moves done well. What’s your 750 seconds going to today? 💬✨

Networking tip you’ll actually want to try 🍽️✨ Host a Second-Degree Dinner. Find a co-host from a completely different circle, invite 4–6 people each, and bring everyone together around a table. The magic isn’t the size of the room—it’s the trusted introductions. No pitching. No forced small talk. Just real conversations that naturally turn into meaningful connections. The best networking happens when it doesn’t feel like networking at all.

Someone I respect asked me, “How can I help?” And I completely froze. Not because I didn’t need help — but because I hadn’t thought through my ask ahead of time. I defaulted to something vague, moved on, and realized later how much value I’d just left on the table. That moment kicked off this week’s newsletter. It’s about why knowing your own ask — before you need it — and tracking what other people need is one of the most overlooked networking skills there is. If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking “I should’ve said something”, this one’s for you. 👉 Read the full newsletter →newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

Quick reminder: reaching out doesn’t need an agenda. A genuine “thank you” can rekindle years of connection.

We all walk around with these mental files on people. What we appreciate about them. The traits we admire. The small things they do that stand out. But most of us keep those files locked away. Research shows we consistently underestimate how positive recipients will feel and overestimate how awkward it will be. We think the upside is small and the downside is large. It’s the opposite. And unlike that leftover bagel in your fridge, kind words don't get stale. Your Action Plan: Start keeping a running list. Then share it. This week, pick one person and tell them. Yes, it might feel odd at first. Do it anyway. 👉 Read the full newsletter: newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

The only “Wrapped” I looked at last year wasn’t from an app. It was five ideas from my own writing that still feel uncomfortably relevant. Small, human actions. Low risk, high upside. No new tools required. I shared the five worth re-reading as we head into this year Read the full newletter: newsletter.bemorerelatable.com

The best time to build your network is when you don't "need" anything. 🤝 We often overcomplicate professional relationships. We wait for a job change or a specific question to reach out, but the "No-Reason Reach-Out" is actually a secret weapon for staying top-of-mind. It’s low pressure for them and high impact for you. It transforms a "contact" into a "relationship". Who came to your mind today? Send them that text. 📲