[hussainbilal]

There is a knowledge project podcast /w Jim Collins that answers this question indirectly.

https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/jim-collins-2/

Long story short: Happiness is derivable mainly either through relationships or transactions (can read this as opportunities you create).

The problem: Deriving happiness through transactions doesn't scale beyond you and your abilities and your time. Deriving happiness through relationships does scale.

Coming back to your question: conversation and listening skills are relevant to both. There is more certainty in using these skills towards transactions (think sales). But you should be putting these skills towards relationship building as well. Mainly because other people may be (and often are for strong relationships) happy to help you out for nothing or very little in return mainly because of a trust that if you're able to you will help them for some future endeavors / dilemmas. This can be seen as an investment towards leverage (think sales growth).

The podcast doesn't take the view I wrote here. The podcast conversation is more interpersonally oriented in its view, but the conversation is oriented towards CEOs.

[tcgv]

> Deriving happiness through relationships does scale.

Can you elaborate on how that works? I'm curious.

[solarmist]

Word of mouth. People love to say nice things about people they know, but only if it's a sure thing. If you occasionally do the wrong thing or upset people in inappropriate ways, they won't say anything. There's a wide swath of I like this person but won't bring up his/her name to others for X or Y reason.

People will bring up your name in positive situations, which leads to new connections to you without effort on your part.