In economics, “The Laws of Diminishing Returns” refers to the point at which the level of benefits gained is less than the amount of energy invested. In other words, there are too many cooks in the kitchen. So what does that mean for maintaining meaningful connections today, and how can gifting help?
Narrow your network
A hundred years ago, your social circle consisted of four realms: family, work, religion, and neighborhood. The extent to which you knew people ranged from acquaintance to loved one, no more, no less.
In 2024, our “social circles” are potentially infinite. 500+ LinkedIn connections, 700 Instagram followers, 1,200 Facebook friends. Sure, there’s some overlap, but what’s most notable about these connections is that as their numbers increase, their value and quality diminish. And understandably so. After all, how can you truly connect with over 2,000 people in your “network” or “social sphere,” especially if you don’t regularly stay in contact or see each other? This begs the question: As you have more connections, do they become less meaningful?
Make it meaningful
According to Dunbar’s Number—a theory created by anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar—it's believed that humans can maintain at most about 150 stable relationships. Let's assume half of that number comprises family and deep personal friendships. When you think about this professionally, our business connections contain, at most, about 80 people. So, how can we maintain meaningful connections?
Start by simply making time: rearrange meetings to have coffee, joyfully offer advice in person, on the phone, or via email; reach out, particularly when you don’t need anything or find an interesting article your connection might enjoy. Our expert tip? Invite them to select a gift of their choice. No matter who, when, where, or why you’re sending a gift, inviting recipients to select a premium gift of their choice extends care for their unique personalities and interests in ways other forms of corporate gifting just can’t.
Corporate gifting is a relevant way to connect with others. This act of appreciation helps us maintain, foster, and build long-lasting, meaningful relationships because it shows people we care about and value them beyond the transactional.
See how easy it is to send gifts, spark connections, and foster meaningful relationships — click the button below to sign up for our Online Gifting platform.
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