I began my business journey more than fifty years ago, at a time when technology meant an IBM Selectric typewriter and carbon paper.

There were no laptops, no smartphones, no email, and certainly no artificial intelligence.

If you wanted to reach someone, you picked up a phone—often a phone mounted on a wall—or you drove to see them in person.

Cold calling was not optional; it was how business was done.

You dialed numbers of people you had never met and carried on real conversations.

Some calls ended in rejection. Others ended in appointments. There was the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory, sometimes within the same hour.

When we traveled to appointments, there were no GPS systems guiding us turn by turn.

And if something unexpected happened, we searched for a pay phone to check messages or call the office.

When we finally met with clients, we sat across from them, shook hands, looked one another in the eye, and built relationships face to face.

Most companies offered very similar products.

What separated one professional from another was not the product—it was the relationship.

Trust mattered. Consistency mattered.

Follow-through mattered.

People did business with people they knew, liked, and trusted.

Fast forward to today.

The technology available to this generation is remarkable.

The speed, efficiency, and reach of modern tools—and now AI—are extraordinary.

There is no question that individuals and businesses who fail to understand and adopt technology will struggle to compete.

AI, automation, data, and digital platforms are not optional; they are part of the landscape.

And yet, as I observe what is happening in business and life today—especially among younger professionals—I notice something important that is often missing.

Connection.

In a world of messages, posts, automation, and algorithms, genuine human connection is becoming increasingly rare.

Conversations are shorter.

Listening is thinner.

Relationships are often transactional rather than intentional.

Efficiency has improved, but depth has suffered.

Technology can accelerate business, but it cannot replace trust.

AI can streamline processes, but it cannot build character.

Systems can scale reach, but they cannot create meaningful relationships on their own.

The environment has changed dramatically, but the foundations have not.

Business is still built on trust. Leadership is still built on integrity.

Influence is still earned through consistency and credibility. Long-term success—whether in business, career, or life—still depends on how well we understand people, communicate clearly, and show up with authenticity.

The most successful professionals I know—then and now—are those who combine the best of the tools available with timeless principles.

They use technology wisely, but they do not hide behind it. They value efficiency, but they never lose sight of relationships.

They understand that progress is not just about speed, but about direction.

This generation has access to tools we could not have imagined fifty years ago.

That is a tremendous advantage. But the opportunity—and the responsibility—is to build on a foundation that has stood the test of time.

Because while the tools will continue to change, the principles that sustain a meaningful life and a successful business never will.

The future belongs to those who can master new tools without abandoning old truths.