How do you prioritize relationships when revenue is so important? Vaughn Mordecai of Mindmatrix says it’s a paradox. If you focus only on revenue, you won’t have any. Vaughn shares a story about stepping in and mending a relationship that was about to go south—it ended up gaining him a huge boost in his job title. When you prioritize relationships, focus on authenticity, and solve customer problems, you end up making more money. Join Sam and Jason Yarborough as they talk with Vaughn about the importance of focusing on building relationships in order to grow revenue. 00:00 Intro 01:55 What does, friends with benefits mean to you? 02:27 Partnerships quickly become friendships 04:03 Vaughn's background in sociology helps him understand partnerships 06:18 Language changes our perception of the world 09:00 Vaughn on authenticity 10:27 The basis of good business is relationships 10:58 Vaughn bails out CEO - and becomes VP 12:03 Have your partners back at all times 14:09 Be the most obvious solution 15:27 Jump in, even if you don't feel ready 18:12 The importance of empathy 20:09 Empathic leadership 21:54 Be wary of focusing too much on revenue 24:22 There's no substitute for experience and trust  26:34  Relationships over revenue 30:14 Brand, KPIs and outcomes 33:06 How do you find a middle ground between revenue and relationships? 35:44 Finding a balance between making money and enjoying life 37:11 Show leadership the return on investment from partnerships 38:25 Automation and partnerships 42:05 Partnerships drive revenue without all the additional headcount 44:26 Where are partner programs struggling today? 46:10 Channel vs. partnerships 48:54 Public vs. private ecosystems