Who do we believe? We’re delivered ‘news’ daily – hourly – or by the minute(!) if, like the majority, we’re ‘geared up.’ Fake news or otherwise – who do we trust?

Nothing is certain unless it’s personal, or seen.

Is it me, or does it seem that as business owners we’ve been navigating these past few years far too gingerly? As barefoot navigates broken glass? Just when C-19 seems to fade we’re confronted by another global threat … yet the world keeps turning.

It’s tough enough concentrating on setting up, planning, and running a business, let alone earning a living. Everywhere we turn there are calls for help. Some at a very personal level, we’re distracted each time we see/hear the ‘latest news.’

So how do we keep the focus to stay the course?

We act as we always have done, don’t we?

‘So, we don’t listen?’ I hear you say.

Listening is good. ‘Turn the dreaded machines off?’ Yes, that’s a good idea.

Better still … we go and seek the opinion of trusted others …

Personally, I’ve found reaching out and talking with other like-minded businesses continues to help me. Especially during these past few years of ‘fakedom & scaremongery.’ Conversation is good for clarification.

By listening I hear support and solutions that I’ve known would be useful at some point. Perhaps not right away … it’s a top-up of the storage tank, my mind-map …

Within the right network there develops a kind of symbiotic relationship. Over time each person (each business) within the network grows, and we mature through regular conversation.

By engaging we learn to know what it is that may be useful to others in times of need and that’s a good thing, isn’t it?

Other often-overlooked benefits? An underlying feeling of being on the right side of the tracks. A sense of solidarity that you don’t have to be on your own – even though you ‘work for yourself.’

Not least. Over time, what becomes crystal-clear is that as a business owner you gain the testimony of peers. That, to me, is a wonderful asset.

Networking is so much more than a quick-fix breakfast or order-book management. Networking is about helping others grow, as you prosper yourself.