What is networking?
Dictionary.com defines the noun as: a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest and the verb as: to cultivate people who can be helpful to one professionally, especially in finding employment or moving to a higher position.
I take it a step further by merging the two definitions in the forming of FOCM Networking. This is a site (system) for sharing information and services among individuals who have a diverse range of interests for the purpose of helping each other more than just professionally, but also socially and financially.
What is networking?
Dictionary.com defines the noun as: a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest and the verb as: to cultivate people who can be helpful to one professionally, especially in finding employment or moving to a higher position.
I take it a step further by merging the two definitions in the forming of FOCM Networking. This is a site (system) for sharing information and services among individuals who have a diverse range of interests for the purpose of helping each other more than just professionally, but also socially and financially.
On July 14, while in the Raleigh-Durham area, I booked a boat through the timeshare boat club I belong to (Freedom Boat Club, (Freedom Boat Club) for Jordan Lake and took a few FOCM members out for after work boating. Present were: Vince Hoefling, Michelle Jacobson, Gayle Grandinetti, Mike Burrows, Nick Macaulay, Carrie Gallagher, Wendy Revenaugh and Kelly O’Brien. And a few of us went out to Tyler’s Taproom in Apex for additional refreshments.
As many of you know, one of the founding principles of FOCM Networking is “patience”. Patience is required in several forms – patience to earn/receive your FOCM membership card and patience to wait for events to be posted to the international world wide web public record. This posting is one such example. On July 15, 2015 in one of the most emotional ceremonies ever – Brian Horan received his FOCM Membership card. As I recall (and since it’s been so long, none of those in attendance can really remember how it actually happened), there was nary a dry eye to be seen. Join me in welcoming Brian Horan.
Present at that evening’s event which occurred at Serena’s on Miami Blvd in Durham, NC were (front row then back row and left to right): Michelle Pasiecznik, Brad Johnson, Pippa Wilson, Lauren Jones, Christina Alexander Smith, Brian Horan, Nick Macaulay, Rosina Pavia, Renee Brown, Jennifer Ausland, Sharon Braddy, Bernie Linner, a photo bomber and Lisa Monette.
September 3 would have been Peter Holthe’s 57th birthday. On that day I thought of him and know he would be enjoying the evolution of FOCM. I miss being able to talk with him. I know he would have had some great ideas and great stories to contribute to this website.
Happy birthday Peter!
You can read more about how Peter influenced this website and the forming of FOCM in the link below or click on the “about” button in the tabs.
The FOCM logo has received its official Trademark/Service Mark approval from the US Patent and Trademark Office. Many thanks to Alicia Kelley, FOCM’s unofficial paralegal for helping submit this and work through understanding how to get it through the process.
First impressions really matter. I saw this article on-line from a Harvard Business Professor and her focus on first impressions.
Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy has been studying first impressions alongside fellow psychologists Susan Fiske and Peter Glick for more than 15 years, and has discovered patterns in these interactions.
In her new book, “Presence,” Cuddy says that people quickly answer two questions when they first meet you:
Can I trust this person?
Can I respect this person?
Psychologists refer to these dimensions as warmth and competence, respectively, and ideally you want to be perceived as having both.
Interestingly, Cuddy says that most people, especially in a professional context, believe that competence is the more important factor. After all, they want to prove that they are smart and talented enough to handle your business.
But in fact, warmth, or trustworthiness, is the most important factor in how people evaluate you.
“From an evolutionary perspective,” Cuddy says, “it is more crucial to our survival to know whether a person deserves our trust.”
It makes sense when you consider that in cavemen days it was more important to figure out if your fellow man was going to kill you and steal all your possessions than if he was competent enough to build a good fire.
First 2 things noticed when meeting someone new
A long time friend of mine, Michael Williams has joined Thrive 4-7. Thrive 4-7 has developed a mobile phone app useful for tracking and managing mild depression, anxiety and stress. The app is called Mevii and it was launched on Facebook and is available in the app stores for iPhones and Android
FOCM members are eligible for a Friends and Family Code Here is the link: Free Trial Mevii App
It’s a 7 day free trial after which it is available at a 20% discount for $7.99. The Friends and Family Code expires August 31. You can click the link, sign up, provide payment information, and you will not get charged until after the 7 day free trial ends. At the end of the 7 day free trail you can do nothing and become a regular subscriber at $7.99/month or you can opt out/unsubscribe on day 7.
Feedback on your experience is appreciated and can be done via commenting here or emailing Michael at Michael.Williams@thrive47.com
Alcami is looking to fill project manager (all levels) and program manager positions across all their office locations. Alcami provides services for all phases of pharmaceutical development for small and large molecules through two laboratories located in Durham and Wilmington, North Carolina, as well as Germantown, WI, St. Louis, MO, Edison, NJ, Charleston, SC and Weert, Netherlands.
Go to the link below for more information and to apply. I can provide job descriptions, write to me at chris@focmnetworking.com if you would like to get them.
For you business and vacation travelers, something to be aware of:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/13/health/eastward-jet-lag-worse/
A colleague of mine working for a service provider in the clinical research industry approached me to see if I could help them ensure an audience for a promotional and educational event they were hosting in the Raleigh area. This is a perfect example of using my network and passion for connecting people to good use.
By being an active networker, I have also met people similar to me. So in the above case I reached out to one of them, also in the industry as well as reached out via email to people I thought would be interested in attending. I also did a reminder email the day of the event.
As is well known in the advertising and promotion world, sometimes it’s hard to pin down which communication inspired people to respond. The host of the event may have emailed some of the same people as I did.
I did a count and of the 30 attendees, 9 were people I had reached out to.
I am working on a business model for such a service. What would you be willing to pay for such a service?
Remember, networking is a two way street. Do not underestimate the importance about getting to know the person you met. This blog by Whitney Johnson was seen on LinkedIn. I liked how open and talkative the student was; however, he never asked her anything!
Returning home recently from a consulting engagement in Tampa, I found myself stranded, late at night, in the Washington Dulles airport. The small regional airline I was counting on for a puddle jump never came through. Eventually, the airline loaded all nine passengers into a van, and shuttled us the two hours to Shenandoah Regional airport.
One of my fellow travelers was a student at a local university. Upon discovering that we lived fewer than three miles apart, he asked me for a ride for the final leg home. I happily agreed.
During our 45 minute drive, I learned a lot about him: his name, where he grew up, where he goes to school, his major, what his parents do for a living, his own career aspirations when he graduates in a few months. We even discovered that we have an acquaintance in common.