Which Came First—The Relationship (Chicken) or the Transaction (Egg)?

The Business Field of Dreams (Minus the Corn)

Traditional wisdom says: Build a relationship based on mutual need, and the transactions will follow. It’s the Business Field of Dreams theory. Except, instead of Kevin Costner looking for his father in a field of corn, imagine Warren Buffett walking in with bags of cash.

But in today’s fast-moving, tech-enabled marketplace—think Facebook, Uber, Airbnb—the transaction often defines the relationship, not the other way around. That’s not necessarily bad. It’s just… different. And it helps explain the tension and resistance to change seen in large organizations.

When trust is overshadowed by revenue anxiety—How much will I get paid? or How much can I save?—both the relationship and the result suffer.

The Bureaucratic Trap

Here’s an example.

New CEO Bob wants better financial controls and believes the current audit team is missing key cost-saving opportunities. So, he proposes switching to a firm he trusts from his previous job. It’s clean. No conflict of interest. Makes sense.

But the board panics.
They ask: “Can’t we just give the current team a chance to improve first?”
Add in some dashboard updates and constant check-ins, and what should have been a simple decision now spirals into a bureaucratic maze.

In today’s climate—defined by slow-growth economies and cost-cutting mania—this is the norm. Everyone’s a self-declared “efficiency expert.” But are we missing the point?

Back to Basics: Trust-Based Transactions

What if we got back to the simple, relationship-first model?

Think of your best mechanic, barber, or lawn pro. People like Victor Aldana.

Victor’s a 30-something landscaper in Peachtree Corners, GA, originally from Honduras. He and his crew deliver real, visible value:
They mow, edge, kill weeds, trim bushes, and clean up. They care.

Victor texts and emails—even while mowing. He’s done tree trimming, deck repairs, and other jobs. Always pleasant. Always professional. No BS.

We’ve used him personally and referred him often. And here’s the clincher:
Even if Victor can’t do the job, he’ll still help you figure out a solution.
How many people in business can you say that about?

The Takeaway: Let’s Do Business the Victor Way

Victor beats the lazy local kids and overpriced services that won’t touch a job under $100. Why? Because he’s relationship-first, solution-minded, and transaction-fair.

Yes, he likes getting paid in cash. So do I. But that’s another story.

Let’s stop over-engineering our business models for complexity’s sake.
Let’s do business the Victor Aldana way—with trust, clarity, and confidence.
And if we can’t always have confidence, let’s at least have faith in the individual.

So… what do you think comes first—the chicken or the egg?
Maybe it’s not about choosing. Maybe it’s about recognizing when it’s time to lead with one… and when to appreciate the value of both.