Guanxi: Relationships

As I think back to the many campaign events I have attended--events that sometimes cost small bucks but more often than not: BIG bucks--I see that in exchange for $$$, the ticket affords access to the celebrity politico. From local to state to federal, the price of admission may vary, but the ticket holder's expectations are the same: Meet the Big Cheese while also meeting friends of the Big Cheese and people who want to be friends with the Big Cheese! 

The ticket holders want to promote themselves, their business or just acquire some cool cocktail convo: "Oh last night when I was talking to Bill...."

Now, my daughter Rebecca is living in Shanghai and from her blog: http://becandaaron.blogspot.com I (and possibly you) have learned about "Guanxi": relationships, and how in China, you can't/don't do business without good Guanxi. Guanxi is integral to moving a relationship forward. That the Chinese have this single word to describe the entire Gestalt of the meeting-greeting-befriending-lobbying-getting-to-know-you-thing is an indication of how important it is to have good Guanxi.

The thing is, by having this word, the Chinese admit and acknowledge they are working on their Guanxi. But I have never heard an American acknowledge (outloud) that they are developing their Guanxi-while of course we all do.

Now, imagine, beginning August 24, the Guanxi Quotient that will exist in Denver at the Democratic Convention (and of course the following week in Minneapolis at the Republican's event.) 

The highest Dems (and some low ones) in the land will be smiling, shaking hands, slapping backs, giving hugs, and exchanging business cards (mine are packed!). It's going to be Guanxi on steroids. I can't wait!