ARTICLES: fertile ground
 Articles by Penelope Brackett

The Meaning of Networking
Fall 2001

That is what we're up to here, declaring our gift with the understanding that there will be those who are ready to receive it.

I spoke to a client the other day about the word "networking" -

all those negative associations with business: cold, calculated, impersonal, manipulative... I suggested the word "community" instead, which tended to evoke warmer images of people working together for a common cause or at least mutual benefit. Upon consideration, I thought there might be some growth in looking at the word anew. I called my group of associates "Creative Seed Network" not community because I perceived its strength in building both personal and professional support. It was the business connotation that drew me to that word. Networking is so much a part of our business language; building positive associations are an important part of building your business.

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Here are few of my associations. I encourage you to develop your own. Take networks apart and it says, "net works." The net image brought me to "the Fisher of men", Jesus Christ. Add and subtract the religious significance as is your want-we obviously have many religious and non-religious affiliations here - clearly this was a man who knew he had a gift to offer and cast his net for those who were open to receiving it. That is what we're up to here, declaring our gift with the understanding that there will be those who are ready to receive it.

Then I flashed on the safety net below the trapeze artist. Our work is not life and death. It is about creating extraordinary lives, filled with joy and creativity. That is a challenging endeavor and this net (work) can provide invaluable support for that challenge of "flying high". Lastly, my image was of a web of connections, a fabric woven of this community that is stronger, and more effective than any single strand. We come together to acknowledge the six degrees of separation, the power of many working together for mutual benefit.

Sow Yourself Like a Seed.

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