In this episode, Jim Lupkin explores the concept of a relationship-based economy, explaining how intentional and systematic relationship building can significantly influence business growth. He differentiates between transactional and relational approaches, highlighting the power of genuine connections over traditional advertising. Through personal anecdotes and practical steps, Jim illustrates how creating trust, offering value, and maintaining consistency can drive higher conversions, stronger retention, and more referrals. The episode also discusses utilizing AI to enhance these relationship-building efforts without replacing the human touch, and provides actionable strategies for implementing a relationship-based economy in both digital and in-person interactions.

#relationshipeconomy #jimlupkin #sixsigmafunnels

AI is speeding up posts, images, and video, but authenticity still wins the room. Jim shows how to use AI as a lever for speed, then add your voice for substance, with clear boundaries for what to automate and what to keep human. We cover labels, disclosures, and why more real conversations are moving into groups, DMs, and private communities. You’ll leave with simple moves to protect trust, personalize your mix of text, images, and video, and design a clean handoff from public posts to one-to-one chats.

Sources

Pew Research Center — How Americans Use Social Media (Jan 2024): https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/

Meta — Our approach to labeling AI-generated content and manipulated media (Apr 2024): https://about.fb.com/news/2024/04/metas-approach-to-labeling-ai-generated-content-and-manipulated-media/

YouTube — How we are helping creators disclose altered or synthetic content (Mar 2024): https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/disclosing-ai-generated-content/

Want to meet up to 30 new people a day? - www.sixsigmafunnels.com

Learn more about Jim and the Relationship Economy: www.jimlupkin.com

#SocialMedia #AIForBusiness #ContentStrategy #Authenticity #PersonalBrand #CommunityBuilding #GenerativeAI #DigitalMarketing

Jim shows why, in a relationship based economy, nimble beats massive, and how solos, small teams, and affiliates can scale real conversations. From a horse brand jumping from $20K to $100K a month to six reps creating 1,200 customers, he maps the rhythm behind daily outreach, clean handoffs, and fast follow up. You’ll see how local first social opens doors to in person meetings, compounding into national reach without losing your soul. He pairs people first tactics with simple systems inspired by Six Sigma so your outreach is consistent, measurable, and predictable. Walk away with five moves to launch your own small business revolution this week.


Sources

SBA Office of Advocacy — Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business (July 2024): https://advocacy.sba.gov/2024/07/23/frequently-asked-questions-about-small-business-2024/

PDF: https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Small-Business_2024-508.pdf

Nielsen — Global Trust in Advertising 2015: https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2015/global-trust-in-advertising-2015/

Nielsen — Global Trust in Advertising 2012 (92% stat): https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2012/global-trust-in-advertising-and-brand-messages-2/


Want to meet up to 30 new people a day? - www.sixsigmafunnels.com

Learn more about Jim and the Relationship Economy: www.jimlupkin.com



#SmallBusiness #RelationshipBasedEconomy #CommunityBuilding #Sales #AffiliateMarketing #LocalMarketing #SystemsThinking #SixSigma

Big brands like Amazon, Nike, Starbucks, and Southwest prove that relationships and community drive retention, referrals, and growth. Jim breaks down how they scale connection customer to customer, and how small businesses can outperform with a personal touch. We dig into why referrals beat ads, how social proof shapes decisions, and why a human face outperforms a logo. You’ll leave with practical ways to build community, design simple systems, and turn trust into conversions.

Sources

McKinsey – The state of AI: How organizations are rewiring to capture value (March 2025): https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-technology/the-state-of-ai-how-organizations-are-rewiring-to-capture-value

Nielsen – Global Trust in Advertising 2015: https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2015/global-trust-in-advertising-2015/

Nielsen – Global Trust in Advertising 2012 (92% stat): https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2012/global-trust-in-advertising-and-brand-messages-2/

Want to meet up to 30 new people a day? - www.sixsigmafunnels.com

Learn more about Jim and the Relationship Economy: www.jimlupkin.com

#RelationshipBasedEconomy #CommunityBuilding #CustomerLoyalty #WordOfMouth #BrandTrust #SmallBusiness #SystemsThinking #SixSigma

Jim breaks down why AI is now non negotiable in business, and how to use it without losing the human part. From a seventy five page marketing plan built in days to web copy finished in hours, he shows how speed becomes strategy when you use AI as a lever, not a replacement. He and his chief strategy officer even co build a cap table in days instead of weeks, with AI doing the heavy lifting and people doing the thinking. You’ll leave with five practical moves you can run this week, define the lever, set a speed benchmark, create a role board, design the handoff, and bring AI into your working sessions. Listen if you want to move faster and still build real relationships.

Sources

McKinsey — “The state of AI: How organizations are rewiring to capture value” (March 2025): https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-technology/the-state-of-ai-how-organizations-are-rewiring-to-capture-value

#RelationshipBasedEconomy #AIForBusiness #Productivity #SmallBusiness #WorkflowDesign #GenerativeAI #SocialSelling #SystemsThinking

Tired of “networking” that feels like cold pitching? In our first episode, Jim introduces the Relationship Economy, why attention is scarce, and a simple daily routine to meet up to 30 new people without being salesy. Here’s the shift: systems create time, conversations create trust, and trust drives growth. You’ll also hear how trust works today, with insights from Nielsen and Edelman. Listen in, try the routine, then tell us what changes for you.

Want to meet up to 30 new people a day? - www.sixsigmafunnels.com

Learn more about Jim and the Relationship Economy: www.jimlupkin.com

Sources used

Nielsen Global Trust in Advertising Report: https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2012/global-trust-in-advertising-and-brand-messages/

Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust-barometer

#RelationshipEconomy #Networking #BusinessGrowth #CommunityBuilding #SmallBusiness #AIForBusiness #PeopleFirst #Podcast