::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . . SETTLE UP: People who think that success or upward mobility depends on who you know are perpetually seeking a connection with someone who offers more than they do, whether it is money, power, status or resources. This approach might work in a "soft," passive business relationship where there is no real expectation to impact the bottom line, but it rarely works in a partnership wherein branding and reputational assets should be tantamount. The tendency is that individuals who came to gain instead of give will "learn and turn." They glean knowledge and use it only to satisfy their goals, then exit. I n a partnership, both parties have the same goals. They must come into the relationship with equal strength in their respective practice areas, otherwise one party will always receive greater benefits than the other, causing the relationship to be ineffective. Mutual benefits equal mutual rewards. You can't just give away your hard earned ...