For some this is a  situation where everyone wins but in my mind it also means  BE GENEROUS TO THOSE IN YOUR NETWORK, which put simply is  share what you know and have with those in your network, go out of your way to reach out to them and help wherever possible.

That all sounds OK, but there is always that question WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

A few days ago I had a call from a dear friend lets call her Mary. Mary has a brother let’s call him Jon. Jon is addicted to alcohol and as such his wife left him and the children. Jon’s family stepped in and shared the upbringing of the children. One of those children, lets call her Jen, graduated from University last year, got a a very good job and  was  married a week ago.

At the wedding, the groom’s parents thanked Jen’s mother for bringing her up single handedly without reference to Jon’s family or their role in Jen’s upbringing. You can imagine how this went down. Jen’s mother had left when she was a child at primary school and Jon’s family had stepped in to safeguard the children and here there were, at an important day in Jen’s life and the credit for all their hard work had gone to someone else. Someone that had left and played no part whatever.

To say that my friend Mary was furious is understatement. She asked me if she was being unreasonable to expect that their role in Jen’s upbringing should have been acknowledged, Jen would not be where she is today is today, she lamented.

My first reaction was one of dismay.

I wondered why was Mary so hurt by this. She was adamant that her niece Jen was at fault and someone on her side of the family should confront Jen about this . According to her Jen had briefed her in laws out of spite because she is an ungrateful child.

All I could say was, It is one of those things Mary, as family members you had to help these children, without the expectation of a reward, because you could and  as  Christians, I would imagine that is something you do for Gods Sake.

Mary accepted this with a big BUT, someone should speak with that child, if it had not been for us…

After the call I wondered, SHOULD GIVERS GAIN?  Do you give and expect something back from the person you have given? Surely that would be conditional giving which goes against the grain of generosity when networking with others?

I also wondered whether  Jen had  in fact paid back through her achievements of education attainment, getting a good job and settling down?

One thing I know for certain is that it is best to be generous to others without the expectation of anything in return. The advantage of this is maintaining good relationships with those in your network, and if you are  not expecting anything in return you are unlikely to be disappointed if it does not materialise.

Have you got your own experience that you would like to share with me, then leave a comment

This exercise revealed that I have two copies of a book called  HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE by Dale Carnegie. One of the books had an old BA boarding pass for a flight from Stockholm in 2007! I used it to bookmark a page.

I decided to forget the dusting and reading that page again and before I knew I had read the whole chapter. The gist of it is that we are all interested in what interests us and if you want to arouse one’s interest you have to talk to them in terms of their interest.

Having read this chapter I put the book back , continued dusting and rearranging the books and when I was done I logged into my account over at Ecademy to catch up with what was going on. My in box had the greatest surprise of all.

It contained two messages and I nearly fell off the chair whilst reading one of them. It was from someone that I regularly communicate with on line and is familiar with my work over at Ethnic Supplies . Here is what it said word for word

How are things in China? Do you know anyone who produces reasonably quality solar panel components for shipping? A colleague of mine is looking at a large infrastructure project to provide power to homes and schools in rural areas in third world countries. As well as obtaining help with sourcing the components, we would need help with checking any cargo before it is shipped in respect of quality and other risks. I should add that this is at the germ of an idea stage, so please do not invest too much of your time for the moment. Sometimes these projects do not get past the funding stages in which case we would struggle to reimburse any costs.

I sat back and said out loud WOW! Suddenly the chapter I had just read in Dale Carnegie’s  made a whole lot of sense.  Although this is someone that I already know he gave me no reason at all to be interested in his business venture because, let alone help him even if I could

• dispensed with the  usual pleasantries or hello, how are you!
• As someone that knows me and I have spoken to a few times he is aware that I work in Africa, why was he asking me about China?
• why did he assume that I know about solar power components
• but this is the sentence that left me dumb founded I should add that this is at the germ of an idea stage, so please do not invest too much of your time for the moment.

He left me feeling  WHAT DOES ALL THIS GOT TO DO WITH ME? Does that sound familiar?

If you were advising this person to rewrite his email so that he didn’t leave the reader asking what it’s all got to do with them, what would that look like?

I would be interested in your views on this.

But my  good friend Jackie Groundsell over at the 12:30 The Women’s company has adopted this as the tag line for this year’s annual conference.  I have been thinking about this tag line in relation to women’s networks.

As I pondered this I did wonder whether women are better at networking and if so why? I can’t provide you with a logical answer to this question but I believe that women are fabulous  at networking and I have been at the receiving end of  this .

I had a problem recently when a parcel I needed for a meeting with John Lewis was stuck at Stansted Airport. You guessed it I put out a private message to my fellow bloggers over at Birds on the Blog and before I knew it my parcel had arrived and I made the meeting. What was interesting about this was,  I tagged my question on a thread that was to do with the Birds on the Blog, but ladies took up my “Any other Business” question and dealt with it. I also felt confident to ask this question in such an environment and did not feel that I would be ticked off sidetracking the discussion.

Something else that has been on my mind; the notion of connectedness and I wrote about this a little while ago. The idea of not having to look for work if you are well connected may seem far fetched but Jackie and I tested this out since my post.

Here is what I happened. Whilst I was in Rwanda last December Jackie sent me an email introducing me to Julia a jewellery designer.

When I got back Julia and I exchanged a few emails and phone calls. I discovered that Julia had previously  lived in Ireland where she specialized in Ethnic jewellery but her suppliers had dropped off the face of the  earth  so to so say, leaving her high and dry. She was keen to restart her business here  in the UK and through  a quick conversation with Jackie she learned that Jackie knew someone that might help her and that someone is Me. I gained a new customer and Julia’s problem with suppliers was resolved. That dear readers is the value of being well connected!

So if you are  looking to kick start your networking this year don’t the  Any other Business event on 16 March 2010

I can’t remember when or how, but I stumbled across this website and I learned that even I could have a fan page. I downloaded their free book and read it cover to cover in under 20 minutes, and hour later I had set up a fan page for Ethnic Supplies Ltd!

I invited a few friends/contacts to join and some did. I then asked myself a question that some of you reading this may be  asking themselves. How do I keep my fans interested so they stay and how do I get new fans?

Enter Nikki Pilkington with a blog on 10 things to post on a fan page, I don’t kid you when I tell you what a God sent this list of things was. I followed this list religiously and the fans grew from 72 to 274 today.

I have found having a fan page useful for another reason, I have not gotten round to putting together a newsletter for those folk interested in my work. I have therefore used the fan page to bring them up to date with what is happening at Ethnic Supplies. I do like the idea as fans can join or leave as they see  fit. In addition the fan page allows  for a two way   interaction between the readers and I on anything I have posted and i use this as feedback from the fans.

One thing that I had not counted on when I set up the  fan page was that a Senior producer at BBC Radio 4 and BBC World service would turn to Ethnic supplies Fan page for research for content of a programme about Rwanda.

But that is what happened last week. An email came through and here it is word for word

I’ve noticed from your Facebook pages that you’re in negotiations to do business in Rwanda. I’m travelling to the country in a few weeks to make programmes from BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service and as part of my research would be very interested to hear how you’re getting on. If you’d be interested in having a chat please give me a call or drop me a note.

Well you can guess my reaction to that, and several conversations later and the BBC man has agreed to include the co-op we are working  with in rwanda in his week long programme and also give us a slot to present a UK perspective.

Something else happened too, we were struggling to get infront of buyers with our wares but when my colleague mentioned that our artisans are due to be part of a BBC documentary, the  doors started to open, quite literary!

So have you got a fan page or do you think it is a waste of time? If you don’t know how to set one up Nikki Pilkington and her team offer such a service and in fact they will maintain it for you, if you are too busy to do it yourself and here is how you can contact them http://www.nikkipilkington.com/contact-us

As usual I would be interested in your views on anything raised here

I met Thomas last night at the Weybridge Ecademy and he gave a powerful talk about the value of networks , being connected and the value of being connected.

The central message to us was that whilst our children understand the value of networks and we need to learn from them. In addition that well connected people never have to look for work  or contracts as these will find them some how.

I had a one to one  5 minute chat after the event and he shared some tips with me on how I can  resolve a current business challenge by growing my network.

Thomas said to me, Ida you can’t be that well connected if you can’t resolve that challenge through your network!

I did wonder whether he had a point so I started to look back on some of the most recent experiences I have had with a view to testing his theory after all I pride myself on my networking abilities!

If you read my story of how I got started with Ethnic Supplies , I will now fill you in with some of the  detail that tests Thomas’ theory.

I mentioned a visit to Madagascar to meet the producers there. I got two phone calls one was from a local glossy magazine known as The Elmbridge, they  had heard about what I was up to and wanted to do a feature about me and my work  The other and perhaps most significant was a call from my local Business Link in Woking.

They wanted me to be a panelist on their road shows  entitled  WHAT  IS  STOPPING YOU  and the idea was that I would share my experiences fo setting up Ethnic Supplies with other women.  The last of these events I took part in was in February this year where I met Jackie who was a panelist too.

Fast forward to May 2009 and I am in Uganda with a client when an email drops in from Jackie, it said

Ida I was touched by story and wondred if you would be  willing to appear as a panelist at our annual general meeting in March next year  as I think some of our members will find it inspiring!

Jackie is someone I have come to know and like and I  immediately accepted  her request and if you are a woman in business I would urge you to connect with her and better still sign up for her event in March.

Back to Thomas’ theory, is this what he means when he says  that if you are well connected  opportunities will find you? Is connecting enough?

Would love to hear your views on these issues

I first met Ida at the Weybridge Ecademy meeting and was drawn to her by her sense of purpose and her drive. Ida, as you will read, it passionate, determined and very aware of the contribution she can make.

Penny Power the founder of Ecademy had this to say

What has inspired me about Ida is her ability to slowly and calmly build a network of advocates around her. I meet so many people who know, admire and like Ida very much but she does not make a noise just for the sake of being heard.

Ida can teach many of us how to be patient, how to work strategically on a mission and how to always leave an impression that is positive.

Ida is a 21st century Social Entrepreneur, she knows how to collaborate, she knows how to build an online reputation and she knows how to position her business in a way that all her stakeholders can share in the success, if Ida is successful the ripple effect is tremendous.

I wanted to write my story so far and share how it all came about. In December 2006 I left England for a holiday in my home country Uganda one thing led to another and this holiday changed my life as I knew it for ever.

The beauty of the landscape

I had a long standing invitation to visit a former colleague who had moved to Kenya as her husband had been posted there for work so I called on her for a whole week. When I got back to Uganda I had an invitation to a New Year’s Eve party by Lake Bunyonyi Kabale in SW Uganda. I had never been to this part of Uganda so I agreed to go. We had fantastic time, partying etc. The following day I asked my cousins if they would show me around the village.

The poverty of the people

I was shocked by what I saw, the poverty in the place was worse than anything I had ever seen. I could not reconcile the beauty of the landscape to the poverty of the people. This part of Uganda is very cold, so there were children walking on the country roads, with no shoes, runny noses, women carrying water on their heads, with rags for clothing.

We found some women weaving baskets

When we got to the top of the hill, we found some women weaving baskets and we started talking to them about their lives, and one thing they had in common was that although they had husbands who worked as casual labourers, they never got to see their husbands’ money, so it was up to them to ensure that the children in particular had food.

Contemplating what I had witnessed

I was in a contemplative mood as I left this village and headed back to the city for the rest of my holiday. Life had not changed for most of these people, the women were my age group, but looked so much older and most had no formal education. I wondered what would have happened to me if my father had decided not to put me through the education system because of my gender.

When we got home I had a heart to heart talk with my father who was very ill at this stage (he had just had a cancer diagnosis). This would be the last time I would have such a conversation as the next time I saw him he was in intensive care and died within hours of my arrival.

Back in the UK

I came back to the UK, with a view to doing something to help the women I had met, both in Kenya and Uganda. I was overwhelmed by how privileged my life was.

“I didn’t have to worry about where my next meal would come from, or being bitten by malaria causing mosquitoes, never mind accessing clean water by simply turning on a tap!”

Something on my mind

I went back to work, as a Housing Manager in Paddington, with feelings of “Oh well, that is not my life now, it was just a holiday, forget about it” But for some reason, I could not settle back into my role, I was in charge of a team of 7 staff, they too noticed this in me, and I wondered if it was because I had been away for a whole month. My boss irritated me amongst other things, but the last straw was a long running dispute between a Leaseholder and a tenant, the local politicians got involved too.

My thoughts turned to the folk I had left behind in East Africa. I thought to myself this has to be some of the most expensive council housing in the UK and the occupants are arguing over where a bench should be located etc!

Something I needed to do

When I got home that day, I wrote my resignation letter and handed it in the following day. At this stage I had no real idea what I was going to do but I knew that there had to be something better out there. I felt a strong sense of relief, until I started telling my family and friends what I had just done; some thought I had lost the plot for walking away from a well paid job. I must admit so did I, but once that letter of resignation was in there was no turning back.

Something in my heart

On my first day as an out of work person, I revisited that weekend’s copy of the Telegraph, and in it there was a copy of those free booklets, on International development, I read about what individuals were doing to help the poor, and at the end there was this sentence,

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TRY SLEEPING WITH A MOSQUITO!

A new direction

There was my answer of what I was going to do. I would go and use my skills of working with the poor in London on the poor of Africa. But it would not be about charity, it would be something that would enable the women to earn money from their work and this money would go directly to them.

What’s in a name?

I had some lovely bags that I had bought from a Malagasy woman in a market in Nairobi, as well as baskets and other bits and pieces from my holiday. I took these to a shop in Weybridge Surrey to get their view as to whether there was a market for such things. The shop owner said there would be as they were very well made, and gave me some price indication but told me there were all too ethnic for her shop.

With that in mind Ethnic Supplies was born!

As a civil servant I had no idea of running any sort of enterprise or where to start and a quick search on the internet lead me to my local Business Link in Woking. I was put through a programme lasting 10 weeks where I learned about marketing, sales, accounting, PR, website etc

My journey to Ecademy

The programme ended with an invitation to a Business exhibition at Kempton Park by Business link where I got to attend various workshops. Back then I had a real fear of anything techy and as I selected which of the workshops I should attend I made a mental note to avoid any workshops dealing with IT.

Looking back this doesn’t make sense at all as those are the very workshops I should have attended so I could learn about ICT By a bizarre twist of luck that is exactly what happened.

Whilst searching for a workshop on Marketing I ended up in the wrong room where the workshop was ICT related. I got in just in time to hear the facilitator say “Google loves Ecademy and Craig’s list” and he went on to ask who in the audience was signed up to either.

I realised I was in the wrong room and left but made a mental note to look up those two “things” (didn’t know what they were back then) when I got home. I did and signed up to both.

Shortly after signing up to Ecademy I went off to Tanzania to meet the first group of women I would work with, and on my return I went to Madagascar. It was whilst I was in Madagascar, that the value of Ecademy sunk in. I posted a blog about what I had seen and before I knew it, people were offering to send blankets, children’s clothing etc.

The friends I have made

Over the last two years I have made some good friends here on Ecademy and sadly some have left. I have had my hand held quite literary. I am grateful to Nathalie Jamois in particular, who helped sort out my website and pointed out the groups I should join on Ecademy, who to follow, Peter Blanchard, who helped with tips on sales and marketing, how to ask for a referral, David Nunn and the Weybridge Ecademy group, these folk are simply great, Emma James, the Ask Linda Ecademy group and some new found friends Ces Loftus, Suhad, Christine Miller and Carolyn Williams.

My Twitter Story

I don’t know when or how I @ethnicsupplies got into Twitter but frankly it doesn’t matter. However what does is the ability to connect with others that Twitter provides. I have no doubt folk will debate the inns and out of Twitter for some time to come of as we say in Africa until the cows come home but I would urge you not to dismiss it.

My Twitter story starts with a post sent by Ed whose Twitter handle is @chiefmoamba. Ed posted a Tweet in which he mentioned an Africa gathering in London. This is someone I didn’t know and I can’t even remember how he became my “Follower” or me his. He politely answered my questions one of which was how I could get hold of tickets to the Africa Gathering event in London.He informed me that the tickets were sold out and asked if I would mind leading on one the seminars! Phew! All of this in just a few minutes of exchanging what is technically text messages!

Having reviewed the details I asked him what on earth I would talk about as the whole gathering appeared to be about ICT. Well those who know me will not be surprised by this. He suggested that I could talk about my work at Ethnic Supplies. That is easy enough I thought, so I agreed to join them. Here is how the actual day went.

Africa Gathering

sincerely had no idea how much I relied on ICT in the running of Ethnic Supplies. What happened next following my appearance at the Africa Gathering knocked me for six. An email arrived in my in box, I along with the other speakers at that event were invited to submit a paper for a conference on Ethics, Roles and Relationships in Interaction Design in Development and given a deadline of May 10 2009.

Ethics, Roles and Relationships in Interaction Design in Development

I had the usual doubts, will I come up with a good enough paper to submit and even if I do, will it be good enough to be selected etc… One thing was certain if I didn’t submit a paper I will never know what the outcome would have been or would be. I therefore sat down and wrote a paper and sent it off and waited for the results that were promised on 24 May. Right on time the results were in on 24 May my paper had been accepted and this is what they said:

Reviewer 1

Accept. This author, who is not a part of the traditional ‘community’ of HCI4D, brings similar insights about listening to people impacted by development is critical to success. I think that her perspective would be very interesting – that we could learn from her experiences and vice versa. I also think that there is a potential for interesting collaboration as well. Although she does not explicitly mention ethical issues, they are implicit in what she has written.

Reviewer 2

Accepted, The author has clearly has done some serious thinking about the relevant work. I agree that we can learn by engaging with this person.

I could not believe my eyes and was glad that I had taken the time to submit the paper. I started to reflect on the power on Twitter as well as that following leads through. Whilst at the Africa Gathering I met three important people who were also running seminars. One of those people was Dr Chris Hutchison a lecturer at Kingston University. He ran a seminar on the University’s Africa project and sat in on my seminar too.

We had brief conversation afterwards, he introduced me to his colleague Catherine we and agreed to meet up to continue the conversation. May was a busy month for us all and it became near impossible to meet. I had a work assignment that took me off to Uganda, and then there was the BBC Gardener’s World Exhibition during the second week of June. When this ended in the belief that the “fortune is the follow up “I dropped Chris a line with possible dates of meeting him and Catherine.

It transpired that he was speaking at a conference in Latvia. I also learned from him that there was a conference at the University on 26 June 2009 and I would be welcome to be one of the speakers, which I promptly took up and my topic was – Representation and Interpretation – focusing on how Africa is portrayed in the popular media.

At the conference I learned from Chris that he had been made head of the University’s Africa Project. He and Catherine were currently working on a project in South Africa and want to explore ways of promoting financial independence for the women. Chris asked if I would consider collaborating with them on this particular project by including them in what I do at Ethnic Supplies Ltd. Discussions are still under way.

The most exciting connection on Twitter was with a fellow Ugandan who lives in Texas and whose Twitter handle is @tmsruge. Like me Teddy is working to help a group of women and children access western markets with their wares. We have decided to join forces. I have recently sent off the samples of the work of the women’s group he is involved with to MONSOON ACCESSORISE having met them at London Fashion Week, and I am waiting for feedback.

So where am I with Ethnic Supplies

I sometimes feel overwhelmed by it all, and there have been times when I have questioned my mental health and felt like walking away altogether but I have come through those times, with the good will of others who wish me to succeed. Ethnic Supplies appears to have gone in 4 distinct directions:

Products:

Some folk are interested in the products due to their uniqueness and quality, and these are the regular customers. There has been an increase in ethically made products, and some people out there are changing the way they shop

The Message:

Some are not interested in products but in what I have to say (the message behind the products), so this has presented speaking opportunities for me as well as opportunities to collaborate with others including academics.

Consultancy:

Some are looking to source products that I don’t carry at Ethnic Supplies so I provide a consultancy service to such people. My first client is a coffee roaster from North London. I have introduced him to the Ugandan Coffee Development Agency and a local coffee co-operative in Uganda that he can work with. They have produced a purely Uganda coffee that isn’t currently available on the UK market and are awaiting certification from Italy.

The Charity:

Having set up Ethnic Supplies, I came across Ann McCarthy who was also working in SW Uganda , we agreed to work together to address the issue of water shortage in the village and have since set up and registered a charity:

LET THEM HELP THEMSELVES OUT OF POVERTY.

Some high points so far

The biggest achievement that makes it all worthwhile is the impact that my work has on the women producers. I can’t begin to tell you what it feels like when one of them says to me I have been able to send my children to school because you found a market for my baskets. I exhibited at the BBC garden’s world live this year- this was made possible by Penny Ritson.

I submitted a paper to a workshop on Ethics Roles and Relationships in Interaction design in developing regions, which was part of a much wider conference Interact2009 in Uppsala Sweden my paper, was accepted and I was invited to present it on 24 and 25 Aug 2009, further details here. This was through a random connection on Twitter.

Pipe line projects:

I have recently been contacted by a Scottish company that specialises in African inspired Tartans to help them start a new line of Tartans using Wild silk from Madagascar. Another assignment will see me accompany a group of ladies from Surrey through South Africa in March next year.

Social media:

has been a big part of helping me to move forward, even the contract with the coffee roaster came about as a result of a random connection here on Ecademy with Charles Okwalinga. I use my blog to communicate
share and learn. I remember a blog I posted on FAIRTRADE way back in February and the discussion continued well into May, and I have forged new connections with some of the folk who turned up for the discussion. I have a lot of learning to do still.

I would like to move away from holding the products myself to supplying them to others which is the goal I started out with. I continue to speak to Retailers about this. This would free me up to spend more time in Africa working alongside the ladies. There are huge gaps in the skills set especially when it comes to supplying overseas and this has meant that they have missed out because their orders were late.

I would also like to build on the consultancy work where I help businesses to set up in Africa or partner with African businesses through my network of contacts both here and in Africa.

My Challenge

Do you know any buyers at retail outlets that I could approach or companies wishing to set up in Africa but don’t know where to start?

Contact details:

Ida Horner
Founder Ethnic Supplies Ltd
Tel:07780703869
Do e-mail me
blog:Ethnic Supplies
Follow me on Twitter
please help us support:
Let Them Help Themselves
out of Poverty

This Community Challenge Club Business Story was Edited, Formated and
Branded by Ces Loftus Club Sponsor

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/missionunstoppable/2008/07/23/Shopping-with-a-Conscience-The-world-of-Ethnic-Supplies

I told him I was due back in London on 14 July, but had several meetings during the day and wondered if he could join me and my associates at an evening networking event organised by the folk at Business Action for Africa. He agreed and at the meeting he introduced me to two people that had been at the event of 1 July where I had met him but I had not had the chance to talk to them at that event.

What was significant about this is that the reason that we had not managed to talk was because like me they had been “caught up” in the two chaps tale about their project, and nearly three weeks after the event one of them was still very angry about this, specifically because she had not managed to meet other people as a result.

In the last thread I offered up a hypothetical scenario of these guys meeting 500 people over the course of the year that are unable to advocate for them, but here I was standing with 3 of those 500 including myself that makes it 4. If we each know at least 100 or so possible people to refer them to..

This is scary stuff if we work on the assumption that Word of Mouth is a very important if not vital sales tool? The significant point here is that everyone remembered who they were and what their company was called, but the mentioning of their names and company had people “pulling faces” in anger!

How about that! I would certainly hate to be in that situation.

I would like your help to unpack this please, and here are some questions for starters!

Should we hold these guys responsible for the fact that we were unable to speak to the people we wanted to at this event?

What is the best way to handle such situations?

How can we avoid this situation in future?

How can we ensure that people remember us for the right reasons and want to refer us to their contacts etc?

All things being equal I make an effort to meet and speak to at least 3 people whom I have never met before at each event and learn about what they do, their interests etc

 And on 1/7/09  whilst at a networking event in London I had  the same  strategy in mind. I joined a group as someone in the group had caught my eye from early on in the evening. A discussion was already under way so I stood by and listened and even joined in the discussion.

Our host was part of this group and he left to find us drinks. This terminated the discussion, and gave me an opportunity to speak to the person that had caught my eye.

As he started to introduce himself to me two people joined the group. He stopped and greeted them too. It seemed like the two chaps had been let loose.

They spoke at length about their project and the rest of us in the group listened, some in the group walked away, our host had returned with the drinks, he listened for a while and moved on.

At some point I managed to get a word in and I said to the two people, interesting project and I heard you say you are trying to launch it in Africa, how can I help

BIG MISTAKE, the academic chap of the two went into all the science of the project etc
I interrupted him again and I asked “what sort of person are you trying to meet in Africa and have you got a preference of African countries?

Is it the man on the street, a civil servant a minister etc, What do they look like?

“Oh, the general mass” came the reply and at this stage I had lost the will to live as everyone else had left the group.

I thought to myself give it one more try! So I said to them

Your project is a really good idea and I think most if not all the African governments would want to talk to you, but you may want to consider coming up with a way to explain it simply perhaps in 60seconds with emphasis on what problem you hope to solve in order to get their attention

So if you would like to start telling me who you really would like me to introduce to and what would I say to them in 60 seconds that would encourage them to want to speak/meet you!

The penny finally dropped and they both told me about their project and the person they would like to meet in on sentence

I didn’t get to speak to the person I had wanted to speak to but I must say I learned a thing or two.

Your message may be very clear to you but it is important that it is even clearer to your audience

I did wonder what would happen if these two people spoke to 500 people at networking events over a course of say 6 months and none of those 500 people understood who it is they want to meet or what their project is all about!

Would those 500 people go on and advocate for them?

I have to be honest and say they certainly didn’t inspire me to review my network for people they may want to meet!

Some tough questions for you and me

“Do I put my message across clearly enough for people to understand what I do in simple/memorable terms? “

“Does this enable people to advocate for me in my absence?”