A business development plan is critical to efficiently directing your time and financial resources. Although it's important, a plan is an inanimate strategy that's devoid of human awareness of any given situation. Rainmakers are aware at all times. They discover new — sometimes esoteric — opportunities by understanding what is going on around them. Unexpected new opportunities yield a foundation for building rapport and ultimately the golden standard of all relationships — the unique business relationship, which is a relationship that is difficult, if not impossible, to replace. Practice mindfulness and exponentially build your book of business. Here are three real-world examples of how to be vigilant about drawing strategic inferences as you observe a situation.