A big gift and a quick check-in text can do the same job, showing you care, so stop waiting until you can do something big.
The idea
Ask my seven-year-old how much she likes tacos and she'll spread her arms as wide as they go. We think that's silly, yet we believe deeper connections need something biiiiiig. We're social creatures, and we crave genuine connection much more than grandeur. A gift that took hours and a couple hundred dollars and a text that took a few seconds achieve the same result: showing you care. And the text can't be turned down.
How to do it
Start small but be consistent. Skip the long lunch, the courtside tickets or the bottle of whiskey.
Set a goal to send a spontaneous message to three people in your network every week.
Example
A coaching client spent hours searching for the perfect gift for a referral partner, then settled on an expensive bottle of wine. A week later he popped off a simple check-in text to another contact. Guess which relationship flourished? It doesn't matter, because both showed he cared. Only one could be rejected ("er, thanks, but I don't drink anymore").
Script
"Thinking of you. Hope all's well!"
Watch out for
I've gone overboard myself: helicopter rides, mariachi bands, your favorite band dedicating your favorite song to you. I rarely think that's needed.
The Smooch: The smallest possible touchpoint, and the one I've seen work best: 'Hey! You came to mind this morning. Hope you're doing well!'
Something Is Better Than Nothing: Any touch they can attribute to you beats silence. If you don't know what to say, say anything.
Personalization Over Price: Choose with their eyes, wrap it well with a handwritten note, and favor books, local treats or donations over generic gift baskets.
Consistency Over Intensity: Relationship building isn't hard; doing it steadily for years is. Small actions repeated often beat occasional big efforts every time.