The People Factor Is The Real Factor

(Relationships are the strategy, period.)

I haven’t posted in a bit.

That wasn’t an accident. I took some time to be a human. Time with family. Time with my nieces and nephews.

And yes, I picked up a minor cold along the way. Which is what happens when you spend time around little humans who are equal parts joy and germ factory.

Nothing dramatic. Just a reminder.

The people factor is THE real factor.

Business is still human, whether we admit it or not

We like to talk about systems, strategy, numbers, and execution. All of that matters. But underneath every decision, every hire, every partnership, there are people.

People hire people.
People trust people.
People decide who they want in their corner when things get uncertain.

Even the most analytical businesses are still human at the core.

And pretending otherwise is usually where things start to break.

Relationships are the real currency

Contracts matter. Scope matters. Revenue matters.

But relationships are what actually move businesses forward.

Trust is what allows you to move fast without friction.
Honesty is what allows hard conversations without ego.
Consistency is what keeps momentum when things wobble.

The best work I’ve done in my career has never come from a transaction. It’s come from relationships built over time by showing up, doing the right thing, and acting in someone else’s best interest.

Good deeds come back around. Relationships come back around. The money takes care of itself when you do right by people.

A small moment that says everything

Over the holidays, I happened to be in Naples, Florida at the same time as one of our clients. Completely unplanned. Very last minute.

They sent a message just to say they were in town. No agenda. No ask.

I suggested we grab brunch.

No slide deck. No work session. Just two people sitting down, being human, talking about life, business, and where things are headed.

That hour mattered more than any meeting we could have scheduled.

Because relationships aren’t built in perfectly planned moments. They’re built when you choose to slow down and show up.

How we operate at Strategy Shark

This is how I’ve always worked, and it’s how Strategy Shark is built.

I believe in being accessible. I believe in jumping on the call. I believe in making it work across time zones, schedules, and realities.

I’ve taken calls late at night. I’ve answered messages while traveling. I’ve opened my laptop by the pool on vacation because a piece of research mattered for a founder facing a real manufacturing and retail deadline.

Not because I had to. Because it was the right thing to do.

That’s what being a partner actually looks like.

We don’t take work we can’t do well.
We don’t make commitments where someone is disappointed.
We don’t win if our partners lose.

Relationships are the real currency. Always have been. Always will be.

Looking ahead

There will be busy seasons and quieter ones. There will be moments where things move fast and moments where they feel harder.

That’s normal.

What won’t change is how we show up. Human first. Partner always. In the trenches when it matters.

If you’re a business leader who wants someone in your corner, not just on your invoice, we’re here.

Let’s Talk Strategy!

And yes, there is a person behind the blog.

— Chris Webb, Founder, Strategy Shark