By Justin Stoddart

In an age where clients have endless self-serve tools, staying relevant isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what others won’t.

The key? Collaboration.

Build a powerful network around you and be intentionally collaborative in both your client acquisition and your client service.

• Collaborative acquisition: Don’t just market to clients — build relationships with other professionals who can introduce you, and whom you actively refer back.

• Collaborative service: Don’t work in isolation. If your client needs a tax expert, don’t just wish them luck. Connect, coordinate, and elevate their experience together.

When you show as a connector and collaborator you create value that’s unexpected, unforgettable, and worth talking about. That’s how you stay relevant.