One of the main reasons many business owners and managers join a chamber of commerce is to get better connected with other chamber members and to conduct business to business sales. All chambers offer workshops to teach these skills and help their members practice what is preached to them. The difference between chambers is their definition of a couple of words.
The first commonly used word is “Networking.” Our chamber prefers to use the word “Netweaving”. What is the difference, you ask? Well, a lot. Networking is going to an event, switching business cards with other attendees and going back to work with a sense of accomplishment. Netweaving, on the other hand, provides a different result. The man recognized as the creator of the term “netweaving” is Robert Littell, an insurance consultant in the Midwest. In October we are bringing Robert to speak to our members on how to “weave” yourself and your product or service in with other like-minded business men and women.
Littel's concept is different because it asks, “What can I do for you,” rather than, “What can you do for me?” Sounds simple doesn't it? Well, it is. It is really putting the shoe on the right foot rather than the wrong foot. Here is an example from his book, “The Heart and Art of NetWeaving: Building Meaningful Relationships One Connection at a Time.” The majority of this column is taken from his book.
The story begins on Nov. 17, 2001, at a management conference. It represents a great example of NetWeaving and the fact that, “what goes around … does come back around.”
The keynote speaker at the conference was retired Gen. Norm Schwarzkopf. Most of his presentation was about leadership. The main thrust was built around this question: “What distinguishes leaders?” His answer, “Most leaders lead because they are able to inspire people to willingly do that which they would not ordinarily do on their own.”
Schwarzkopf finished his talk and was taking questions from the audience when a young woman named Nancy raised her hand to speak. She had some notes in her hand and the general could see that she was nervous talking to him in front of 1,000 or so people. Finally with a slight tremor in her voice she stated, “Good Morning.” The general, seeing she was reading from her notes said, “Did you memorize that … or was that spontaneous?” She laughed, as did the audience, and regained her composure.
She then began to describe that her family had all been service members, adding that she had served in Panama and her father before had served in the Army Air Corps. As a request from her father, she thanked the general for his past and continued leadership.
She also expressed her wish that she could have been in uniform to salute him, while she also regretted that even a handshake wasn't possible because of the added security in the hall from the Secret Service. She then asked what advice we as parents should give to our children as the next generation of leaders of this country.
He said, “Tell them it's okay to do your own thing, but do it Plus One.”
That one something extra is to help someone else up a hill; be a leader and stay one step ahead in helping them meet their goals successfully. He said that he has given his children the same advice.
With her short piece finished, he then asked her to come forward to join him on stage. As she walked the 40 feet to the stage and stood at attention, you could have heard a pin drop. The general first directed her to salute, and she addressed him with a full military salute, which he immediately returned. After she saluted him, he asked if he could shake her hand. He then asked if he could hug her.
As she embraced him she was heard sobbing in his microphone. The event was one that no one in attendance would ever forget.
After the event, Littell, who was in the audience for the emotional event, mentioned the story to a reporter. The reporter picked up on the story and asked for Littell's help in getting the facts and names of all involved.
The story was picked up on many websites and word spread to Nancy that Littell had worked hard to share the story. When Nancy called to thank Littell, she found out what he did for a living and hired him to speak at Xerox, where she worked.
Because Littell's willingness to help had inspired Nancy, she hired him. Robert's positive attitude helped propel his company to a higher plane through his good work and willingness to serve others. His talk at Xerox garnered him many other speaking engagements, as well. But wait – here is the rest of the story.
As Littell says, every single act of NetWeaving is like throwing a stone into a pool of water. It sets off an ever-expanding set of circumstances and chain of events, whose consequences and ramifications may not be known for days, weeks, months or even years into the future. The old saying, “What goes around does comes back around … and good things do happen … when good people make things happen,” is evident in the end of our tale.
As a result of Littell's NetWeaving activities with Xerox, and their “buy-in” to the NetWeaving concept, the book I have been quoting from was printed for free as a donation by the Xerox Corporation.
Littell's book is worth reading. He donates all the profits of the sales of his book to those organizations who wish to use the book for fund-raising purposes.
For more information about Littell and netweaving, please visit www.netweaving.com or come to October's First Friday Breakfast.
The first commonly used word is “Networking.” Our chamber prefers to use the word “Netweaving”. What is the difference, you ask? Well, a lot. Networking is going to an event, switching business cards with other attendees and going back to work with a sense of accomplishment. Netweaving, on the other hand, provides a different result. The man recognized as the creator of the term “netweaving” is Robert Littell, an insurance consultant in the Midwest. In October we are bringing Robert to speak to our members on how to “weave” yourself and your product or service in with other like-minded business men and women.
Littel's concept is different because it asks, “What can I do for you,” rather than, “What can you do for me?” Sounds simple doesn't it? Well, it is. It is really putting the shoe on the right foot rather than the wrong foot. Here is an example from his book, “The Heart and Art of NetWeaving: Building Meaningful Relationships One Connection at a Time.” The majority of this column is taken from his book.
The story begins on Nov. 17, 2001, at a management conference. It represents a great example of NetWeaving and the fact that, “what goes around … does come back around.”
The keynote speaker at the conference was retired Gen. Norm Schwarzkopf. Most of his presentation was about leadership. The main thrust was built around this question: “What distinguishes leaders?” His answer, “Most leaders lead because they are able to inspire people to willingly do that which they would not ordinarily do on their own.”
Schwarzkopf finished his talk and was taking questions from the audience when a young woman named Nancy raised her hand to speak. She had some notes in her hand and the general could see that she was nervous talking to him in front of 1,000 or so people. Finally with a slight tremor in her voice she stated, “Good Morning.” The general, seeing she was reading from her notes said, “Did you memorize that … or was that spontaneous?” She laughed, as did the audience, and regained her composure.
She then began to describe that her family had all been service members, adding that she had served in Panama and her father before had served in the Army Air Corps. As a request from her father, she thanked the general for his past and continued leadership.
She also expressed her wish that she could have been in uniform to salute him, while she also regretted that even a handshake wasn't possible because of the added security in the hall from the Secret Service. She then asked what advice we as parents should give to our children as the next generation of leaders of this country.
He said, “Tell them it's okay to do your own thing, but do it Plus One.”
That one something extra is to help someone else up a hill; be a leader and stay one step ahead in helping them meet their goals successfully. He said that he has given his children the same advice.
With her short piece finished, he then asked her to come forward to join him on stage. As she walked the 40 feet to the stage and stood at attention, you could have heard a pin drop. The general first directed her to salute, and she addressed him with a full military salute, which he immediately returned. After she saluted him, he asked if he could shake her hand. He then asked if he could hug her.
As she embraced him she was heard sobbing in his microphone. The event was one that no one in attendance would ever forget.
After the event, Littell, who was in the audience for the emotional event, mentioned the story to a reporter. The reporter picked up on the story and asked for Littell's help in getting the facts and names of all involved.
The story was picked up on many websites and word spread to Nancy that Littell had worked hard to share the story. When Nancy called to thank Littell, she found out what he did for a living and hired him to speak at Xerox, where she worked.
Because Littell's willingness to help had inspired Nancy, she hired him. Robert's positive attitude helped propel his company to a higher plane through his good work and willingness to serve others. His talk at Xerox garnered him many other speaking engagements, as well. But wait – here is the rest of the story.
As Littell says, every single act of NetWeaving is like throwing a stone into a pool of water. It sets off an ever-expanding set of circumstances and chain of events, whose consequences and ramifications may not be known for days, weeks, months or even years into the future. The old saying, “What goes around does comes back around … and good things do happen … when good people make things happen,” is evident in the end of our tale.
As a result of Littell's NetWeaving activities with Xerox, and their “buy-in” to the NetWeaving concept, the book I have been quoting from was printed for free as a donation by the Xerox Corporation.
Littell's book is worth reading. He donates all the profits of the sales of his book to those organizations who wish to use the book for fund-raising purposes.
For more information about Littell and netweaving, please visit www.netweaving.com or come to October's First Friday Breakfast.