Honoring John Ruhlin, Founder of The Ruhlin Group, Episode 249
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John Ruhlin is the late founder of The Ruhlin Group, a gift logistics company that helps clients like the Chicago Cubs, Wells Fargo, Caesar’s Entertainment, Miami Dolphins, Morgan Stanley, and The John Maxwell Company execute year-round gifting strategies. John’s unique approach to relationships led him to become the #1 salesman for a $250 Million direct sales company by the time he was 23 (out of 1.5 Million reps). Prior to his passing, he spoke widely about strategic gifting and relationship building and helps CEOs and sales teams drive referrals and open doors to elusive decision-makers.
I’m so honored to share my conversation with the late John Ruhlin with you this week; our discussion is all about the importance of generosity and relationship-building in business. John started by sharing his experiences growing up in a small town, how he came to pursue entrepreneurship, and shares stories of a mentor he had as a young man who taught him the value of building genuine relationships with clients, employees, and their families, and how it led to his business success. He also dives into the importance of giving without expectations and being thoughtful and intentional to foster meaningful connections.
“Show up generously in all areas.” - John Ruhlin
“A physical gift is a representation of the value you place on a relationship.” - John Ruhlin
“It's so unusual for somebody to send something to another person, not because they wanted something needed something did something but just to based upon the relationship.” - John Ruhlin
This Week on The Wow Factor:
How John learned that generosity and relationship-building are key to success in business
Why John used Cutco knives to build relationships and generate leads to become the number one rep in the company's history
How John's unique approach of combining thoughtful gifts and personalized notes helped him secure meetings with CEOs at the beginning of his career
The mentor that John had as a young man who modeled generosity and thoughtfulness
The concept of Giftology and how you can serve businesses of all sizes by modeling generosity and thoughtfulness towards employees, spouses, and suppliers
Why it’s important to show gratitude and appreciation in business relationships rather than tying it to specific transactions or milestones
The methodology John used for surprising and delighting clients and employees through planned random acts of kindness
Why the worst gifts to give include logoed clothing and gift cards because they lack emotional connection and depth
John emphasizes the value of creating positive experiences for clients' inner circles
The importance of understanding human needs and desires when giving gifts, especially when you’re giving at scale
John Ruhlin’s Words of Wisdom:
Always give more than is reasonable without the expectation of receiving anything in return.
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