Building Community and Connection in Business with Steve Ramona

**SPEAKER_1** (0:04)
The Bliss Business Podcast, the show about empathy, connection, and consciousness in business. Today's episode is brought to you by Zero Company, your paid search, social media, and programmatic ad experts.

**Stephen Sakach** (0:18)
Welcome back to the show, everyone. I'm Stephen Sakach here again with my co-host Tullio Siragusa and our special guest today who we'll introduce in a moment.
So, in a world filled with digital tools and rapid communication, something very human continues to stand out as a competitive advantage and that's connection. LinkedIn has reported that roughly eight out of 10 professionals say networking is important to career success yet. I mean, I admit they rarely build relationships in a consistent or meaningful way and the difference usually comes down to intentionality and service. Today, we are talking about how leaders can build connection and community in a way that creates value for everyone involved. Tullio, introduce our guest today.

**Tullio Siragusa** (1:03)
My pleasure. Our guest today is Steve Ramona. He's a next level super connector and a partnership specialist who has helped generate more than $1 billion in project impact and over $100 million in partner deals through the power of intentional introductions. He is the host of the top 20 Doing Business with a Servant's Heart podcast. Now more than 800 episodes strong. I think it's 900 episodes since we wrote this and leads together. We serve on an E360 TV reaching millions of viewers each month through stories of purpose, during leadership and collaboration. So excited to have you on the show today, Steve. Good to have you.

**Steve Ramona** (1:47)
Thanks for having both of you. Thanks for having me. It's a great topic and we need to talk more about this.

**Stephen Sakach** (1:53)
Yes. I've been looking forward to this one, Steve, since I was on your podcast a while back. You got to come on. We got to talk to people about the way you operate. Because this is your superpower is connecting and you're one of the super connectors. I remember reading a book, I think it was The Tipping Point, I want to say, where they talked about, there's certain person who's just got that down, that super connecting ability and I think you're definitely a super connector. But let's dive into it. Steve, people talk about networking all the time. How do you define true connection versus just exchanging contact information?

**Steve Ramona** (2:36)
You're invisible. When I go meet somebody, it's all about that person I'm meeting.
I don't do as many now, but I used to do 10, 15 discovery calls, one-on-one calls, whatever, not sales calls, but trying to figure out what they do and how we can help. And that's always my first question. How can I help you today, Tullio? Stephen, how can I support you today? It sends people back in their chair, which is great because they don't hear it all the time, if not at all. And I think before I jump on a call, how can I uplift and bring value to somebody? That's all I care about. People go, what about you? I said, it will come. You saw the numbers I was doing. I've done millions of dollars in partnerships. It's come back and lately it's come back even more for other reasons. But you just got to take the focus off you. The spotlight should be on the person you're talking to or people and then run with it from there.

**Tullio Siragusa** (3:34)
I love that. So let's apply this in the business context. You're talking about really focusing on relationships. And what happens to businesses when leaders begin to prioritize relationships first instead of processes and system, which are important too, but what happens to those businesses when leaders prioritize relationships?

**Steve Ramona** (4:00)
Competitors send you clients. Other people are willing to help you. You talk to somebody that's a billionaire, and you're trying to be at that level, or a multimillionaire. When you treat them right and build relationships, you can go ask Ivan Meisner, who is on my podcast, who started BN9. I think he's a billionaire, but he's very wealthy. We got done, and I asked him a few questions. He goes, anytime you need some help, just reach out. That is the biggest tool in the toolbox for business, is that relationship with that type of person. Or if you're listening, you know, when you're listening to this live or recording, build up your mentorship, build up those people that are your peers, not your peers, but above your peers, and learn from them. Ask questions. Be involved. Be engaged. Because here's the power of that. One, Steve Ramona gets to be better, but here's the biggest power from the connecting standpoint. I can go to everybody else that is struggling, that needs help, and take all that information with love from that billionaire and share it with hundreds.