Charles HudsonFounder and Managing Partner, Precursor Ventures

Can You Build Real Relationships Without a Hidden Agenda?

28 Jun 2025 · 1 min

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Charles Hudson and a co-speaker argue that genuine professional relationships need small, non-transactional touchpoints built early, like informal conference meetings. Rushing into sales interactions feels uncomfortable and doesn't work. Trust has to come first.

Chapters

And they're like, okay, and it's important, but it's not urgent. And urgent things crowded out. And then a year later, they're like, what we had in a relationship with OpenAI or Google or Meta. I'm like, well, the time to start building that was a little bit. I'm like, guys, it's little things getting to know people in the Org. If you're going to a conference where they're going to be there, finding 15. This isn't. This doesn't have to be a sale. This is getting to know them, building touchpoint, having them get to know you. You get to know them so that if there is something to be done, there's a relationship, right?
And they don't have to be along a journey while the software is being made the entire time. It's really just establishing a relationship. It doesn't have to be anything transactional. What doesn't work or what doesn't feel natural is when you're rushing to do it. And then it becomes sales and uncomfortable for everyone involved.