CharlieKenny.me

people * stories * engagement

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about

I love the coast and in particular, the area in which I live, the North East of England. It’s an uncomplicated life, for the past twelve years I’ve been away from the ‘big smoke’ … and the decision to relocate my business to the North has been the best move of my career. So far. I am a writer and have a lifetime of experience in publishing and personal development. I now consider myself a specialist in helping my clients with memoirs – this could be a biography, or simply bringing diary pages to life. I tend not to advertise my business, word of mouth has always been kind so it’s no surprise that I do spend a couple of days per week in collaboration through networking. Peer collaboration can be very rewarding. Therefore, if you’d like to join me fortnightly for Wednesday ZOOM or either Tuesday or Thursday for (in-person) morning coffee, please get in touch. I’d love to meet you and perhaps help in any way possible. Thank you for stopping by the website. engage, develop, grow … with Go! charliekenny@live.co.uk

  • Networking or Netconnecting?

    Over the last few decades, networking has devolved into an endless series of cattle-call events full of barn-style open bars, pizza and a mingle coffee meets and the inevitable gathering tub-thumpers …

    Perfect strangers, after a long day at the office, agree to show up and bump into each other, randomly exchanging business pitches for business cards.

    Needless to say, traditional networking is not working anymore. For successful 21st century business people, large networking events and the mountains of business cards they produce have become a waste of time and valuable resources. It’s time to re-evaluate why people buy people.

    Networking will feed you today. And for some of us, this is why we ‘do’ networking. We know this, but connecting … really connecting and playing the longer game, understanding that properly developed relations is what makes for some amazing and sustainable opportunities that stretch far deeper than simply the one-off business opportunity.  

    So let me ask you … are you Networking for today or Netconnecting ?

  • So, what’s up?

    and it’s so easy to get it right …

  • Shut that door – the Hunter again!

    Looking to nullify the effect of the inevitable “Hunter” present in your Network Forum?

    Here are just a few more tips from our series of …

    How to combat the sales-hungry ‘Matt Le-Fatt’ type…

    As in earlier post, Matt Le-Fatt is our fictitious ever-present shark-hunter type. A not unusual species and often seen circulating even the best of Network Forum, our shark Le-Fatt is ever-present in the kitchens, waiting for the uninitiated to arrive.

    Therefore …

    1. Best you arrive EARLY for business besides, nothing gets people talking better than the early bird arrival. The right impression is made with visitors curious what the buzz is about – you all cannot be here simply for more business, right? The visitor will soon be ever so grateful for your support.

    2. Volunteer to HELP. As above, why not make a point of arriving in good time to help – and ask if your colleagues need help, don’t just assume it is not required. Also, Hunters don’t like others arriving too early – as it spoils their own sales pitch …

    3. Be happy, smile. Another antidote to certain Hunter-types. You are more appealing when you smile – and in stark contrast to the Hunter-cook who, in fear of missing out cannot help the but send out expletives emanating from the kitchens as another sausage goes up in flames … don’t forget we are protecting our visitor here …

    4. Listen to your visitor. Don’t be tempted to do a Matt Le-Fatt and over sell just as the niceties of introduction have cooled. No-one likes to be sold to – especially over breakfast.

    5. Relax, and be yourself … People buy from people – remember?

    6. Book a One to One … Try and educate your visitor on the above psychology before the Hunter Le-Fatt reach them. You cannot possibly know all about your new network partner during open networking – if you think you do, you will start sending out all the wrong ‘Hunter’ messages. Book a One to One asap.

    7. Support each other …Inevitably the visitor is going to be cornered by the lone shark at some stage – Matt Le-Fatt is renowned for it and has all the moves. So by offering your support to the visitor, mentoring and removing the threat of the Hunter you shall greatly enhance your position of confidant and ‘go to’ person, which can only be a good thing, right?

    8. Most importantly, during networking (or any time,) if you say you are going to do something – always do so. Nothing destroys the opportunity for future referral more than neglecting the follow-up.

    9. Ask for help. We are all good at offering our support although many misunderstand the power of the need for assistance. People like to help because it offers a clear path to the relationship. So ask if you need help, better relationships are part of the reason MOST of us are in business for

    10. And finally, if you cannot seem to get a word in conversation because of the ever-present Matt Le-Fatt Hunter …

                You will realise only then, that you forgot to shut that kitchen door!

    More to follow …

     

  • The BIG – A. Ambition or Apathy?

    Attitudes are contagious

    Which attitude is prevalent in your network forum?

    Easy or edgy, positive or negative, go with the flow or grow with inspiration?

    If you find the attitude is not right, then how do you turn it around?

    As people-persons we all need a reality check at times, because it is easy to fall into a routine of ‘this is safe, this is normal or ‘we like it like this and this is how it should be.’

    Because we are in a people business I believe we regularly need to gauge whether the common theme is positive and supportive, and if there’s a problem, then do something about it … check for the negative influences, make a move to remove those stumbling blocks to success – and when we find them simply …

    Educate for change, speak with the culprit and if it doesn’t work … remove them or give the hint and simply shut that kitchen door!

    Nothing discourages ambition faster than apathy.

  • We do our best …

    A professional is a person who does the best they can at a time when the do not feel like it.

    ~ Alistair Cook

  • Attitude meets diversity

    Without doubt professional variety plays an important part of our network.

    Without variety there would be a particularly dull meeting, this is why we invite our guests.
    The same can be said for attitude … and when the positive attitude mixes with diversity the magic of word of mouth referral has the potential to bring dividends for all

    That is unless you have one too many negative amongst you.

    One such  minus, convincingly portrayed by our network newbie, cook and ‘sausage-sizzler’ extraordinaire, Matt Le-Fatt!

    With attendees low and catering numbers down and with the Le-Fatt toaster left standing the attitude may not be conducive to good networking … unless of course … and this is regardless of catering numbers … we have the appropriate diversity in the room. An attractive presence with the pre-requisite qualifications may be just the antidote for the le-hot Le-Fatt.

    How sweet it can be …

    So how do we dissuade the rampant Le-Fatt, who with one salacious glance or remark might just poison the network ‘garden’ and cut-short any network recommendations our attractive guest ‘diversity’ may be prepared to pass on?

    True, there are many different types of people who look for referral – although should we be selective and invite just the ‘Le-Fatt’ tolerant amongst us? A difficult decision for some … especially when we know that with the right attitude and abundant diversity present, the Net really does Work.

    One suggestion is warn the guests, another might be to sack Le-Fatt … or even change venue?

    Or it could be simply be a case of … if they don’t listen, we shut the door …

      More from Le-Fatt files coming soon …

  • Because they said so …

    So why is it that, according to George and since the early 20th Century we’ve understood that the truth is rarely represented via the media … simple really, we like the gossip don’t we? Some cannot live without a bit of scandal.

    the people will believe

  • Why people buy people

    Over the last few decades, networking has devolved into an endless series of cattle-call events full of barn-style open bars, coffee meets and the inevitable tub-thumping.

    Perfect strangers, after a long day at the office, agree to show up and bump into each other, randomly exchanging business pitches for business cards.

    Needless to say, traditional networking is not working anymore. For successful 21st century business people, large networking events and the mountains of business cards they produce have become a waste of time and valuable resources. It’s time to re-evaluate why people buy people.

    So let me ask you … are you Networking or Netconnecting?

    Networking will feed you today. And for some of us, this is why we ‘do’ networking. We know this, but connecting … really connecting and playing the longer game, understanding that properly developed relations is what makes for some amazing and sustainable opportunities that stretch far deeper than simply the one-off business opportunity.

    So let me ask you … are you Networking for today or Netconnecting?

  • I Am Still Learning

    I’ve woken up to find that I don’t know everything!  Honest, I know this may come as a little bit of a shock, but hey – I am, after all only trying to help !?

     

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  • We need to be selective …

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