Networking can help you build your business,  relationships and connections BUT the power  of a network, should  never be underestimated and can just as easily damage your business and reputation.

We have a routine in our house.  We head out early for a long walk and often reward ourselves with a big breakfast.  Last Saturday was no exception, and this time we combined a few jobs on the way to our smashed avo! 

Hello, my name is Kerryn Powell. If we are yet to meet, I am so glad you found me and am reading this piece I’ve written to help you better understand the ripple effect of networking. I’m feeling quite sentimental as I write because a major milestone has just happened in my family. My first grandson has recently joined us and our hearts are filled with love for  this new little person who has entered our lives and will further broaden our horizons.

In an increasingly connected online world, I believe many people are feeling more disconnected than ever. It was Jerome Bruner, a world renowned educational psychologist who lived to the ripe old age of 100, who long realised the value of conversations and story-telling as vital learning tools. 

In this tribute to Bruner, we learn more about this incredible man and his adventures, and better understand his contribution to narrative and storytelling as fundamental processes through which we engage with culture, providing “recipes for structuring experience”.

From the dawn of recorded history networking has been a critical tool for survival, growth, and prosperity. Even the archetypal mad inventors slaving away in their lonely cave or tower was surrounded by books… in reality, they were also in contact with other great minds working in related or parallel fields from whom ideas, methodologies and discoveries to test and build on were exchanged.

David has been running his  business for over four years now.  He left corporate world when he had the chance of  a redundancy package and  grabbed it with open arms, deciding  that working for himself was a much better option.  

It has been quote a journey! The first year David was very busy.  He had plenty to  learn as he set up his home office and was responsible for every day to day administrative task.

Dr. Jason Fox, spoke about how we  often suffer from default thinking or  auto pilot. He suggested we make a new goal of  challenging  the things we do automatically and the approaches that we use without thought.

It made me think more about innovation, which is  a hot topic these days.  We talk about businesses needing  to continually change,  to improve and look for a new ways.  Products and services quickly become stale or redundant as new and better ways of “doing” are created. 

People buy from people they know like and trust. This means when you meet someone at a business networking event, and take the time to have a chat and connect with them meaningfully, it is likely that 1 in 4 of these people will either become a colleague, supplier, client or friend.  I like these statistics, because they represent a strong conversion rate and also demonstrate the importance of connecting face to face with people.

Marketing is a key ingredient for business growth which all businesses must pay attention to, but gaining attention in the noisy world we live in is not always that easy.  Creating  content that engages with your current and potential clients in a variety of ways is good for your business growth and allows you to make a unique and relevant impression for those you want to me noticed by.

Life is precious. Our time is precious and relationships play a massive role in our success.  Who has influenced you, your relationships and your business?

Recently, I attended two funerals of women aged in their 90’s.

You know when you have an idea and its been in your head for sometime and finally you act on it!  Well, that is what happened for me.  With four events in theSmall Business Festival on the horizon, I knew I could develop a working tool to  help business owners  focus on using their precious networking time wisely.

My first full time job in the travel industry was the result of connections in my  mothers network.  It is a known fact that over 85% of jobs result from networking.  I met my husband, Leigh,  through a work colleague during that period, although perhaps we were always destined to meet, as I had booked his parents world trip before I even met him! 

Innovation is becoming a much talked about concept and requires businesses to continually change, improve and take  a new approach.  Quickly products and services are becoming  stale or redundant as   new and better ways of “doing” are created. 

When we cut through all the noise and deliver our communication the way the client/colleague likes, understands and knows we have a greater chance to build lasting business relationships.  Understanding the 4 different styles and how to use them assists in greater understanding for all parties. 

Did you know Melbourne turned 181 years old last year ?  What an achievement! Last  November, YTM Networking with a Twist turned three.  Both YTM and Melbourne are built on conversations that create profitable relationships and achieve outcomes.

Now into  our fourth year of  running events  in Brighton and various locations throughout Melbourne, I have witnessed how learning brings people together to network and benefit from the experience of others.