Story of the Week
Now, there are parts of the story that are definitely more "for Hollywood" — including lessons I wouldn't pass forward. For example, when our protagonist, Pierrepont Finch, pretends to be an alum of his boss's Ivy League school just to "get in good" with him. But every interaction he has shows us something powerful about human nature:
People respond to genuine attention and appreciation.
Take Miss Jones, the secretary who had worked at the company for years without receiving a single compliment. When Finch notices her dedication and expresses genuine appreciation for her work, she becomes one of his strongest allies. Or consider how he takes time to learn everyone's names, their roles, and what matters to them — from the mailroom to the boardroom.
The lesson isn't about manipulation (please don't fake your alma mater!). It's about something much more valuable: the power of authentic connection.
In today's digital world, this lesson is more crucial than ever. You can have the best product, the most polished website, or the most innovative service — but if you're not someone people want to work with or buy from, you're fighting an uphill battle.
I see this play out in traditional workplaces all the time. Think about the last promotion at your office; did it go to the person with the strongest technical skills or to someone who combined competence with the ability to work well with others?
When people recommend someone for a new project or opportunity, they're not just thinking about that person's skills — they're thinking about what it's like to work with them day in and day out.
I saw this firsthand in my architecture days. When I started, I was "just" a drafter, but I genuinely cared about the people I worked with and the success of our projects. I took the time to build real relationships with my project managers, to understand their challenges, and to be someone they could count on.
The result? I was often chosen for business trips over others with similar skills, and I became the youngest person in the firm to be promoted to job captain. Not because I played office politics or bent the rules — simply because I cared about the people I worked with and they knew they could trust me.
Technical skills got me in the door, but relationships accelerated my growth.
Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or building your own business, this principle holds true: skills open doors, but likability keeps them open.
Here are three ways you can apply this in your online business (the right way):
- Share Your Human Side: I've learned that perfection isn't relatable — authenticity is. When I share my mishaps, learning moments, and occasional failures alongside my wins, it creates real connections. People don't just follow my business journey, they relate to my human experience.
- Be the Helper, Not the Hero: Instead of always positioning yourself as the expert with all the answers, focus on being helpful. Offer genuine support without expecting immediate returns. Be the person who makes others' lives easier, not harder. When I started doing this consistently, my network grew organically, and opportunities began to find me. In other words, as you hear me say often: serve first.
- Bring Your Personality to the Table: Business doesn't have to mean boring. I weave in stories about my life, share what I'm learning, and let my natural enthusiasm shine through. Whether it's mentioning watching old musicals with my family or sharing a lesson learned while opening Pokémon cards, these personal touches make you memorable and relatable. They help people see you as a real person, not just another faceless business account.
Remember: being likable isn't about manipulation or pretending to be someone you're not. It's about being genuinely interested in others, being helpful, and showing up as your authentic self. Finch's story might be fictional, but the power of genuine connection is very real.
And all of that can start today. You’ve got this!
