A Healing Book

I am sick. Darn it. I was supposed to go to Detroit to see my two granddaughters and bake cookies. But instead I am spending Saturday on the couch.

Taking advantage of the enforced quiet time, I finished reading Three Cups of Tea, the story of Greg Mortenson building primary schools in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg is a mountain climber turned humanitarian. He is the Director of the Central Asia Institute. The book is an amazing story of Mortenson's total dedication to making the world more peaceful by providing education to those who have nothing.

I was fascinated that the Pakistani tribal elders taught Greg the ways of the region saying, "Share one cup of tea, you are stranger, the second cup of tea you are friend and third cup of tea you are family." Greg, in the early days of trying to get schools built, was impatient and driving. He soon learned that he need to sit back and develop relationships!

The elders also shared with him that when he wanted to go to the next village to investigate the possibility of building a school, he needed an introduction to the village elders. And like many people working in foreign countries, he hired a "fixer," someone who could smooth the way for Greg, because they knew the lay of the land.

When we typically think of networking, we envision the Chamber event or meeting with those we know. Instead this book takes us to a very third world place to show that networking (and this word is not used in the book) and relationship-building is universal.

What book have you read that demonstrates relationship building?

Networking Gone Wrong

Today I went to a networking lunch.

It was a demonstration of how it should NOT be.

We were called to our lunch tables at 11:45 AM. The president proceeded to talk for the next hour. The food sat on the buffet table the whole time, salad getting limp, entree getting dry.

Now if this had been an exciting or interesting program, it probably wouldn't have mattered.

But it was boring. One good point was that at least PowerPoint was not used!

I had brought a guest. I had paid for her lunch. She didn't even get to eat her lunch because she had to leave at about the time when we were finally released from torture (my opinion) to go through the buffet line.

I could tell you more, but is it any wonder that this group struggles to gain membership. The program was not about our audience members today, but all about self-congratulation for ALL (and I mean all) that was accomplished in the past twelve months.

What groups do you see doing things really well, and what have they done?

What Do I Get?

Sometimes it's hard to figure it all out.

Last week I met with a Realtor. We decided it was time we got to know one another since we kept running into each other at various events.

I asked her if she was a member of the Women's Council of Realtors and she said no, because she really didn't feel that it delivered what other types of networking do.

I had to agree with her, if she was planning on getting referrals.

But for her, The Women's Council of Realtors is a professional organization. Most of us really don't understand the value these groups bring to the table.

These are knowledge-based organizations. What that means is that when we attend the meetings of our own professional group, we'll gain information and education and rarely referrals.

This group also allows for affiliates (non Realtor members.) She will gain connections with those who can help her clients in the future, whether it is for a mortgage, decorating, an appraisal or landscaping. She had realized that these members were getting to meet her, but had not thought of how these connections could be valuable also to her.

Finally, I asked her how many times she sat at a closing table without another Realtor on the other side. She laughed and agreed that usually there was another Realtor. I asked if closing was easier when she knew the other Realtor. She agreed that was true.

While the jury may still be out on whether she joins The Toledo Chapter of Women Realtors, she now understands the three main values she receives from this type of membership.

What do you get from your professional memberships?

Leadership Toledo, Part VI

Today was another fun-filled day with Leadership Toledo. Or actually it was a morning.

Our focus today was Government.

Hmmmm - Ya' gotta know that I again wasn't too excited about the topic going in.

But LT really has done their job in making all these days be educational and exciting.

So for the first hour this morning we all became part of a giant game. Divided into eight groups, our group goal was to play Governmentricks with the objective of getting as many points as possible.

This was set up like Trivial Pursuit, except that all eight groups played at the same time. For each color that we landed on there was a corresponding set of questions. Some of the categories were: financial, quality of life and general trivial questions. Then there were squares that each represented a governmental entity. When we reached a square, say Maumee, the question was about the city of Maumee government. If we got the question right, we got to put the piece of the puzzle in our game piece. I am so glad that Nick Malone was in our group as he was able to answer almost all the questions. I know I had the look of wonder on my face the whole time and was always saying to Nick, "How in the world did you know that?" I am embarrassed to say that I was only able to answer two of the questions during the whole game.

This game was a wonderful way to get us all involved. What I got from it is that there is a lot I don't know and also that there is a lot to know!

Once we totaled our game points our next speaker Mike Beasley, Lucas County Administrator, gave us a challenge. We were to decide whether we want legislation to legalize gambling and in what form. Once our group decided what we stood for, we had to convince other groups to our side to get a majority of the points. The winners combined the points of three groups to get their majority and agreed they wanted riverboat gambling and would split the proceeds to the three government entities represented in their coalition. One of the left out groups said, "Wait a minute, Maumee is on the river, how can you leave us out?"

Mike laughed and said, "That is a prime example of what happens when legislation is being brokered."

I'm still not much more knowledgeable about government than I was this morning. But I do have a sense of the complexity and that perhaps this complexity could be our downfall. Simplifying government is easy to say, but it probably is an even more complex task!

Oh yeah, later on I found out that there is a difference between economic development and community development, but that's for another day.

What would you change about our government - federal, state or local?

Yeah, My Bucket is Half Full

People make it all worthwhile.

Today I met with a young business person who is in the process of starting a BNI chapter. He wants to do it right. The BNI director who is helping him suggested he meet with me. By the time we were done, he had all kinds of thoughts about the types of people he could attract to his group so he gets his chapter off the ground as quickly as possible. I loved his energy.

I have a new trainer for CN in Cincy. Gregg has enthusiasm, energy and great ideas. He gets things done. I am enjoying the extra umph he gives me. He's three hours away, but as the butterfly flaps its wings and the air is disturbed around the world, so does Gregg make his positive vibes come my way.

Another Certified Networker friend, Janice, from Florida called asking for some advice. We talked for quite awhile. It felt good that someone else valued the information that I could provide...and she gave me a couple good ideas, too.

Tonight, Sandy Pirwitz, Sandy's Stuff and I delivered a check to one of the charities, Aurora Gonzales Community Center, from our Masters of Sales event. It was dark at 5:30 PM and we had to meet in a not a very nice part of town. But inside at the board meeting, when we gave them the $700 check they had tears in their eyes. It made it all worthwhile.

I am lucky to have so many great people in my life.

What makes you smile like I am tonight?

I Win No Matter What!

Tonight I'm working on a first draft of a nomination for the Toledo YWCA Milestones award, which is an annual tribute to extraordinary women in our community.

I am nominating my friend Kim Welter, who is the Executive Director of EqualityToledo, the organization that works for equality for all Ohioans regardless of their marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Kim is passionate about what she does and is getting better at it every day! This former school teacher is learning how to advocate politically and to create coalitions that will support equality for everyone.

What I love about this process is that I get to know more about what Kim does because I have to have a very clear understanding in order to write a winning nomination. Additionally, when I write a nomination, I ask for permission to talk with others who know and work with my nominee. Already, tonight I have talked with one person who sang Kim's praises. Reverend Connie Bonner, Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor at St Vincents Mercy Medical Center said, "This is really great, you get to meet so many people doing this." And she is right. I feel lucky to have this opportunity.

Who would you nominate for an award and why?

3M Sticks it to Me

Frustration!

Today I had reserved time to decorate the house for the holidays. Because Steve won't let me hammer nails into the woodwork, I used those little white or clear plastic hooks that 3M manufacturers. Each year I buy the replacement sticky part -- the two-sided tape attachment that sticks one side to the plastic hook and the other to the wall or woodwork.

So today I had to run uptown to get some of the replacements. I went to four stores, Rite-Aid, Big Lots, K-Mart and Lowes and the situation was the same at each store. There are no replacement sticky parts available. I finally gave in a bought the supply of tape AND hooks that I don't need. Since at all stores, these were offered for sale from a special "Command 3M Display," I have to assume that 3M has decided not to offer replacements. Or the four stores have decided to only offer the combinations of hooks and tape because they will make more money.

Either way, I am mad for two reasons. I had to buy something I don't need to get a part that I do need. That will only add to our mounting garbage situation. It also means I have to shell out more money than I need to.

Does anyone have a comment on this stupid marketing offering?