IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW

-         The Power of Networking

They say it’s not what you know but who you know. I think it’s a more a case of it’s of who you know who knows. And if you don’t know what I mean between the whos and the whys and the wherefores, let me explain.

I’m talking about networking, which can either work properly at an emotional level, or else ends up as a tiresome paper chase. Have you ever been at an event where it is all about false smile and exchanging business cards? There are so many desks full of forgotten collections of business cards – and so little exchange of useful information and ideas in our corporate world.

 The great thing about the growing UnLtd family is that everywhere I look, I find PLU (that stands, if you didn’t know, for “People Like Us”).

It may sound glib as I’ve had my awards (and spent them all on flashy clothes – anyone who knows me will instantly know this a lie!) but I can honestly say that the network building as been at least as valuable in the final analysis as receiving the hard cash.

You see, there is a common strand running through every single project. It doesn’t matter where each person is coming from, be it health, environmental, care, youth or whatever – the common uniting thread is a big human heart. This might strike some people as slushy, in which case call me slushy (but not to my face!).

But if you do feel like this, maybe you are missing something. I urge you to grow your own social enterprise family; they will always be there for you – and you for them. Every time I go to an UnLtd event I never cease to be gobsmacked and humbled by the capacity of other people to offer of themselves. After each such occasion I feel I have drunk deep from a well of passion and return re-energised in my own work.

Problems, what problems? Well, there are sometimes practical problems – and this is where my own growing network can always help. The precise paperwork to form my charity? – Jim in Durham provided that; one email, no cost, no problems. Coaching to help shape my project towards award status? – Nickala was there right through the process. Ideas about scaling up onto a national stage? – Cliff and Michael down in London were happy to talk this through.

Day-to-day support? I bumped into Bradley recently in Manchester, who has joined us in Innospace, Manchester Metropolitan University’s incubator for early stage enterprises. He works on his Multi-Heritage identity and cultural project and I work on my fad dieting and problem eating anti-obesity research. We continually trade ideas and support. We’ve used Innospace for UnLtd events – at last there’s somewhere physical for early stage social enterprises in the North West (isn’t it funny how the semi-governmental advisors always seem to have the offices and the continuing grant streams!!).

And the give and take of my personal and growing UnLtd family continues. I am going to need some very precise advice about charitable structuring soon. I know that Maria down in Brent has already jumped through these loops; she can hold them up in the right order for us.

I think it’s time to look to hop down to the Wirral soon to visit Jaci and Elaine again. They hold strong and caring arms underneath kids who sometimes fall through the gaping holes in the State education net and who might otherwise just carry on falling without people like them with the sheer guts and humanity to stand firm and catch. Again, I am humbled to know them.

Malcolm from Alderley Edge is coming in this afternoon to talk to everyone in Innospace about project growth. An accomplished commercial entrepreneur as well, he also knows a thing or two about tough times and caring through his own magnificent UnLtd-backed project, steering young men round the stigmatisation of depressive illness.

Just the other day I tried to pass on a few tips on media positioning to some people at an UnLtd gig in Huddersfield. Denton, who I’d not had the pleasure of meeting before, wanted to talk through growing some traction with institutions to roll out his drugs and alcohol youth awareness programme from its immensely promising roots in inner-city Sheffield.

Yeah, man, I hope we’ll talk again very soon. Welcome to the UnLtd family.