Sometimes you recognize you need to re-frame something that you started on. I made a mistake with the months theme. I went with Networking, a rather simple idea, instead of trying something bolder, and more interesting.
Networking isn’t evil. I should say that before I say anything else. Even with that said, I don’t think that is what need to focus on. It is a small piece of what I want to do.
Words do matter, and create a narrative all on their own. The narrative that networking has isn’t a real popular one. For most people, it brings up images of the guy in the blazer, schmoozing around in parties, making people uncomfortable with picking out what is valuable about them and eschewing the rest.
That was never my intent with the word networking, but that is what I see sometimes when I hear the word, so I can imagine that is what most people see as well. We can’t remove the past, the experiences that we have and as such, we can’t really change the narrative that things have without a lot of work. I am unwilling to do that work, and I think with a small tinker I can create a better internal narrative.
Small changes have big results. I am a big believer in that. So, the change I want to make is changing the theme of the month from networking to network.
That’s all. Really small change, removing three letters.
SO, why the change from networking over to network? Network has a completely different feel to it. It means connecting with people – learning with people. Network lets me know about a persons story. I get to help people. I get to grow by serving. Most importantly, network feels like something organic.
Changing words can change perception of intent, and that’s what I want to do.
From the desk of Adam Thomas 