“Time decides who you meet in life, your heart decides who you want in your life, and your behavior decides who stays in your life.” Ziad K. Abdelnour

Today’s thought carries a depth of meaning that should motivate us to think more seriously about our personal influence as it connects to relationships and developing as leaders.

Regardless of one’s domestic or international travel, our paths cross with a variety of people from all walks of life. Throughout the course of life, we may experience relationships with hundreds, if not, thousands of people.

During these encounters we make decisions about those individuals we want to spend more time with in order to develop a deeper relationship. These relationships make us vulnerable as we begin sharing our personal lives: failures, weaknesses, and even our inadequacies.

How we conduct ourselves in developing those relationships determines the few that become lifelong friends affected neither by time or space. Leaders rarely enjoy the kind of intimacy that creates a bond exceeding superficial cordialities.

The effort we put forth to develop these kinds of relationships extends beyond this physical life into eternal realms.