My Relationship Journey in Business — and 3 Lessons You Can Use Today

by Pete Kane

Relationships matter. In business, in personal growth, and in every season of life — relationships are the thread that stitches everything together. Today, I want to share a conversation I had with someone who embodies this truth: Jen Starks, Senior Business Manager at All Things Neuro. Her journey is a powerful reminder that when you lead with connection, your life and business expand in ways you never expect.

How Jen Rediscovered the Power of Connection

I’ve known Jen since the days of Send Out Cards — a tool many people misunderstand as “just” sending greeting cards. But for Jen, and for me, it became a system for something much deeper: relationship marketing.

Jen started her professional journey studying psychology and counseling. But life took her in another direction as she chose to be a stay-at-home mom. When she re-entered the workforce, she quickly realized something important:

Connection wasn’t just a skill — it was her calling.

Through networking, learning people’s stories, and showing genuine care, she built a community from the ground up. And that community led her to her current work in the neuro-rehabilitation world, helping people recovering from brain injuries. She didn’t get there through résumés — she got there through relationships.

The “Card Moment” That Changes People

One of my favorite parts of our conversation was talking about the magic of sending someone a personalized, unexpected card — especially with a photo from a moment in their life.

Mail these days is bills and junk. So when a card arrives, especially one that reflects something personal and emotional, it lands differently. I’ve sent thousands of cards over the years, and people still come up to me years later remembering the exact moment they received one.

It’s not the card.
It’s the care behind it.

Understanding the Brain Injury Journey

As someone who has lived through a stroke, I resonated deeply with Jen’s perspective on brain injury recovery. She understands the invisible challenges — the emotional swings, the identity shifts, the frustration of doing simple things that once felt effortless.

When she talks about helping patients, she emphasizes something many people miss:

Brain injuries are internal. You often can’t see the struggle, but it’s real.

Her company helps people navigate one of the hardest journeys of their lives, but what impressed me most is her heart for advocacy. She leads with empathy first, strategy second — and that’s exactly how relationships should be built.

Growth Comes From Hard Things

Toward the end of our conversation, Jen shared something that stuck with me. She said every difficult moment in her life — divorce, raising kids alone, navigating career transitions — became fuel for growth rather than bitterness.

It reminded me of a guest I once interviewed who said:

Turn PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) into PTSG — Post-Traumatic Stress Growth.

The hard things shape us.
The painful things strengthen us.
The unexpected things redirect us.

And if we lean in, they grow us.

My 3 Relationship Lessons You Can Use in Business Today

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, salesperson, leader, or just someone trying to make a bigger impact, here are the three biggest takeaways from Jen’s story:

1. Be genuinely interested in people.

Not for what they can give you.
Not for what you can get from them.
But for who they are — their story, their journey, their dreams.

Real relationships start with curiosity.

2. Follow up in meaningful ways.

A text is nice.
A comment on Facebook is fine.
But a personalized message — a card, a photo, a thoughtful gesture — creates emotional connection and lasting memory.

Small efforts make a big difference.

3. Keep nurturing your network — even when it seems unrelated.

You never know which relationship today becomes an opportunity tomorrow.
Your reputation, consistency, and kindness compound over time.

As Jen said, your relationships become your tribe.
And your tribe becomes your advantage.

Final Thought: Don’t Get Too Busy for People

We live in a fast world. Everyone is multitasking, rushing, scheduling, rescheduling. But relationships don’t grow in that space. They grow in presence, intentionality, and the small moments we choose to show up for others.

As Jen reminded me — and as my own journey has proven — when you put relationships first, wonderful things happen.