Allan Tear from Aptus Collaborative/Betaspring/SVPRI first addressed the issue of how to expand your network by highlighting how we must all strive to have “T” shaped networks vs. “I” shaped networks. There are always parallels that can be drawn from one industry to another especially when you consider how deep and diverse our networks are, often without us even realizing!
Alan Harlam from
Charlie Harding from Runa Tea explained to everyone “asset mapping” and how using global nets and location based nets you are able to cultivate asset based community development. What does all that mean? Well, it’s simple really. You look at what is already available, connect puzzle pieces, and again, share! He cited “co-work spaces” and even something as basic as sharing a printer with another organization that’s right by, as examples of this resourcefulness. Peter Hocking from RISD had a quote that built upon this sentiment, “It’s not the coolness of the toys, it’s the quality of the relationships.”
When a question on etiquette came up, Allan made a great point when he noted how people don’t like to be asked for their stuff, but they do like to be asked for their opinion. Contact sharing was also discussed and when it’s appropriate to pass along someone’s information and when it is best to ask permission first. “Low stakes” meetings were brought up as a great way to cultivate meaningful relationships within your network, because after all as Peter put it, “Selling somebody something is not networking.”
My favorite piece of advice which was shared by Andy Cutler, was the echo of a realization I have personally found a lot of clarity in. It is something that has served as a sort of map to a happier, more fulfilling life for me, and that is to “surround yourself with people who share your values.” Well, on Thursday November 12th one thing was clear, there are a lot of other people in
Inspiration abounds in