Friendship, like a delicate plant, needs to be nurtured.

Watering the Sapling of Your Friendship Fern

The first few days of your new friendship will actually decide whether your friendship will last forever or will wither away. Now, friendships might happen automatically, but if you want them to last forever, you have to chip in some efforts.

It is much like a potted sapling. It is very small and delicate at the moment. You have to water it, give it proper fertilizer, place it in gentle sunshine, etc. so that it thrives.

Even with friendship, you have to do some things. This begins with your first meeting with the person itself, the "breaking the ice‟ part. Once you have found a person you like, make sure that you open up an avenue to meet them again. If it is a class or club, you don‟t have to worry, because you know they will be there again. But sometimes friendships happen in the strangest of places, while waiting for a bus, for example. When you meet people in such uncertain places, you could close the conversation by giving your name. They will likely reciprocate by giving theirs. Then, give them your number or ask if they would like to meet you somewhere, like in a coffee shop, for some casual banter. Probably set this up for the weekend. This is an important step, because here is where their genuine interest in you is shown along.

Even if you are meeting someone at a regular place, make sure you don't come on too heavily on them. Let some "chance‟ conversations happen between you, and opportunities to meet will occur. Like, you might accompany on their way home or even take a detour for a bite somewhere.

Lasting friendships are those that start out on the right foot. We have already mentioned that, but this will be important throughout your initial days. It is good manners to listen. Keep everything that they say in mind. Remember their name, what they do, where they live, the people that they talk about, etc. You may not realize how important a good memory is for a lasting friendship. If you remember things about them during your successive visits, things are going to be much better.

Don't sell yourself too much. You might be zealous in making this person like you, but don't give out too much information about yourself. Let your topics flow. Speak in relation to what they are

speaking. Don't create topics from the wind, just as fillers. That makes the outing boring.

Also, don't be too pushy at first. If you have met somewhere, don't be too greedy for another outing very soon. Get the right feeling from them first. If they are eager to meet you again, plan on a nearer date. Or best, ask them to suggest when you would meet next. You will really have it made if you ask them to bring their other friends along the next time. That makes it concrete in their mind that you like them for what they are.

#friendships #mlm #networking