#linchpins

'An Ode To Pockets' taken from Linchpins by Ellie Rose McKee.

You can find it on Amazon here: (x).

Ecodesign, traceability and the use of recycled plastic are the linchpins of LVMH’s LIFE 360 program

Translated by Nicola Mira Released April 16, 2021 On Thursday, LVMH, the world’s leading luxury group that started the year in lively commercial form, unveiled its new environmental roadmap at its annual general meeting. Antoine Arnault – Courtesy of Berluti The plan is part of the group’s LIFE 360 program, which identifies the four pivots that LVMH relies on for growth through 2030. LIFE 360…

“It doesn’t matter if I am right or wrong. What matters is that I am always moving.”

What’s your business background, and should you only seek out similar people to yourself?

The mirror image can be flattering. You meet someone you feel is like you; same kind of areas of interest, same kind of customer base; facing the same kind of challenges that you face. You have things in common, things you might share.

But just because you have apparently natural allies in business doesn’t mean you should discount other potential contacts.

There are networking groups whose stated purpose is to seek out business leaders of a broadly similar type, based on turnover etc, and shut out anyone who doesn’t fit the profile. Elitism has a kind of attraction to some, but this approach seems flawed to me.

Business networking is all about opportunity. The wider the range of people you encounter, the greater your opportunity is for making meaningful contacts. The other thing to remember is that people you meet will know other people, providing greater opportunities for you to expand your business network. A diverse range of contacts will result in a lengthening of your networking reach.

BNI founder Ivan Misner describes certain networking members as linchpins. These are the people who act as connectors to others, creating shortcuts across clusters of people.

If you want to connect with the connectors, you should be prepared to network with a diverse range of business representatives. You have to be ready to look beyond your normal frame of reference.

This is also about perseverance. We’re not all natural mixers, and being cornered either by someone thrusting a business card under your nose or, conversely, someone who’s simply out to enjoy a few glasses of wine, might not seem productive, but the trick is to keep at it.

Networking gets easier the more you do it. And the wider the range of people you encounter, the more interesting and stimulating it becomes.

I’ve worked with the sort of people I would expect to, but I’ve also had commissions, and interesting work at that, from sources I wouldn’t necessarily have considered a natural fit. And these sources lead to others.