Last month a I met a fellow who really was a total banker. I went visiting various places around Hull City centre to see if there was any interest in BforB. Now the Hull business community is always unfailingly polite and the vast majority of the visits I made drew a courteous response but no interest. Fair enough.
The banker in question was an exception. I was asked to come back another day and when i came he gave me a nice cuppa and told me straight away that he would not, for contractual reasons be able to participate in a BforB meeting.
He then told me that he had given some thought to BforB and suggested that start-ups might be good place to network. He then told me that his bank had close associations with City Works. Now City Works offers support guidance and training to people in Hull. It is concerned with employment, ensuring that Jobs are available to Hull folk and supports new businesses.
He offered to phone the two guys that run it and promised to get back to me when he had done so. He did just that and as a result I met Nick and Phil. Now Nick and Phil are two really nice people who gave me free coffee cup after a friendly chat. Nick may come to a BforB meeting soon.
All this stemmed from meeting an employee who was on the ball about local business and employment needs, has strong links to the business and public sector and put a great deal of thought into how my work could offer benefit to, and benefit from, his connections.
Like I said, total banker. To meet like mined business colleagues, check the BforB website for Business networking now
Wednesday 26 January 2011
Time for a cuppa
Just got off the phone after chatting to one of the BforB members here in Hull. He told me about a meeting he had with a colleague in the same sector that he had after BforB.
He has been a member since December and his take on things went along these lines:
"This networking stuff works. I went to see colleague over in Leeds, just phoned him up for a cuppa and a chat. Any way there are some interesting possibilities I found out after talking with him."
"I can't see why more people don't do it. I can see what you mean when you keep banging on about Know Like and Trust".
To be honest this bloke is a top BforB man who brings at least if not more to each meeting than he takes away.
But by taking time for his business, away from working in his business and buying into KLT the personal as well as business benefits are accruing.
Its simple: make time for a cuppa, people like meeting people and when you offer something as nice as good company you lose no more than a quid (or more if you are into one shot lattes with chocolate on top).
He has been a member since December and his take on things went along these lines:
"This networking stuff works. I went to see colleague over in Leeds, just phoned him up for a cuppa and a chat. Any way there are some interesting possibilities I found out after talking with him."
"I can't see why more people don't do it. I can see what you mean when you keep banging on about Know Like and Trust".
To be honest this bloke is a top BforB man who brings at least if not more to each meeting than he takes away.
But by taking time for his business, away from working in his business and buying into KLT the personal as well as business benefits are accruing.
Its simple: make time for a cuppa, people like meeting people and when you offer something as nice as good company you lose no more than a quid (or more if you are into one shot lattes with chocolate on top).
The BforB Cross-Country Ethos
Somebody I have never met was provided with a lead by someone who I have only met 4 times , via somebody I have only met twice simply because of the BforB ethos of developing Know Like and Trust relationships. What was that? Well here's what happened:
A good friend of a BforB member in Hull who lives on the other side of the Pennines has particular need of specialist Legal Advice.
The BforB member phoned me up and asked if I knew of any solicitors over in that part of the country.
I put him in touch with the Manchester BforB Regional Director, who gave him a contact number, someone who is a member of his BforB group.
Sorry if the thread seems a bit convoluted. It does involve 5 different people but the end result is simple. A professional colleague has obtained a worthwhile lead because BforB is a network of referral clubs. It was easy for our member in Hull to help locate a suitable solicitor for a friend on the other side of the country.
But more important than that, because BforB teams focus on developing Know Like and Trust relationships this lead came about because people know that they are adding value to their membership by simply talking to one another.
A good friend of a BforB member in Hull who lives on the other side of the Pennines has particular need of specialist Legal Advice.
The BforB member phoned me up and asked if I knew of any solicitors over in that part of the country.
I put him in touch with the Manchester BforB Regional Director, who gave him a contact number, someone who is a member of his BforB group.
Sorry if the thread seems a bit convoluted. It does involve 5 different people but the end result is simple. A professional colleague has obtained a worthwhile lead because BforB is a network of referral clubs. It was easy for our member in Hull to help locate a suitable solicitor for a friend on the other side of the country.
But more important than that, because BforB teams focus on developing Know Like and Trust relationships this lead came about because people know that they are adding value to their membership by simply talking to one another.
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