Living by the coast I spend much of my spare time along the shore-line. The combination of energy by the sea, oxygen in abundance, the space, solitude (apart from the dog of course,) are a great combination for inspiration.
I like to scour the shoreline for sea-washed glass. Just fragments of colour glistening amongst the sand and pebbles. The sunlight catches them and I’m always tempted to pick them up and slip them into the pocket. It’s become a routine now. You can picture it can’t you?
The dog bowls off in one direction and I’m stuttering along, picking up pieces of broken treasure in the hope of discovering the best piece yet. Blue is the favourite, then green, yellow, brown. All types of shapes and colour. 
Much to the dismay of Mrs Kenny (the ‘better half’) I’ve managed to now gather a really healthy collection of ‘pocket trinkets’ that only come to her attention when they somehow manage to confound the spin dryer …
A little like networking?
No, not the spin dryer! I spend a good deal of time with my network colleagues, it has become another pleasurable routine. The routine here though is keeping an eye out for the glittering prize of referral, all shapes and sizes of referral.
These come along through my understanding (like visiting the beaches) that when I’m on patch, when attending The Forum I’ve an opportunity to hear what others are looking out for. How can I help them, where might I find the prize they look for. I’m learning to keep an eye, as well as an ear open for friends I see on a regular basis.
Good referrals do not come along readily enough for some. Maybe that ‘some’ don’t frequent their patch regularly enough? It’s often the case when people errantly declare“networking doesn’t work for me.” Of course these are disappointed, perhaps because they have yet to educate others as to what it is they seek.
Make the networking routine, embrace the structure, the opportunity of picking up the not so perfect and understand that we are learning from the not so perfect, training our senses for the time we recognise and reach for the glittering prize.
CharlieKenny.me 