As we step into a new year, I decided to begin with something close to my heart — connection. This solo episode is all about how we can start 2026 by building and strengthening R.E.A.L. relationships: those built on trust, appreciation, and genuine human care.

A personal story from my husband’s recent surgery reminded me that kindness and connection show up in unexpected ways, and that people remember how we make them feel. From that experience grew this reflection on the R.E.A.L. Connection System, the framework I teach to help people and businesses stay connected in meaningful ways:

Refresh. Engage. Appreciate. Leverage.

In this episode, I walk through each of these pillars and how they show up in real life, from refreshing your LinkedIn presence, to engaging intentionally online and offline, to showing appreciation in ways that leave a lasting impression.

Key Takeaways

1. Refresh your presence so your online identity reflects who you are today, not who you were years ago.
2. Engage with intention — show up where your people are and participate meaningfully.
3. Appreciate authentically — small gestures can create emotional anchors that last for years.
4. Leverage relationships — trust creates opportunity, and every introduction or referral begins with connection.
5. Choose one pillar to focus on this year — start simple and stay consistent.

When you build your business from a place of genuine care, everything else unfolds more naturally.

I’d love to hear how you’re applying the R.E.A.L. principles in your business. Connect with me and share one small way you’re refreshing, engaging, appreciating, or leveraging relationships this month and if you’d like to explore how to implement the R.E.A.L. Connection System in your business, please reach out. I’m here to support you.

In appreciation for being here, I have some gifts for you:

A LinkedIn Checklist for setting up your fully optimized Profile:

An opportunity to test drive the Follow Up system I recommend by checking this presentation page - you won’t regret it.

AND … Don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn and be eligible for my complimentary LinkedIn profile audit – I do one each month for a lucky listener!

Connect with me:

http://JanicePorter.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janiceporter/

https://www.facebook.com/janiceporter1

https://www.instagram.com/socjanice/

Thanks for listening!

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