Nurture relationship

• Show an interest in your acquaintance's life — family, work, hobbies and personal concerns.

• If an acquaintance asks you to come through, do it. If you say you are too busy, you might never be asked again, and the relationship might never progress. (Avoid saying, "I would, but . . .")

• Avoid gossiping about your acquaintance.

• Remember your acquaintance's birthday or any other key upcoming anniversaries or special occasions.

• Return phone calls promptly.

• Communicate with each other, and see each other, on a regular basis.

• Create as many opportunities as possible for your relationship to develop outside of the specific context in which you first met.

• Take cues from your acquaintance about what pace will be most comfortable for your relationship.

• Emphasize shared values and interests.

• Avoid taking your evolving friendship for granted or leaning too heavily on it.

In addition, an online quiz, designed to help people choose the friend that means the most to them, is available at www.emode.com/friendship. Jan Yager serves as a spokesperson for Visa; more information on friendship can also be found at her Web site, www.janyager.com.