I’d like to tell you a story of a guy I once met you see I just had my second
once met you see I just had my second
once met you see I just had my second child and I had been out of the
child and I had been out of the
child and I had been out of the workplace for a couple of years despite
workplace for a couple of years despite
workplace for a couple of years despite being a conventionally productive member
being a conventionally productive member
being a conventionally productive member of the workplace for over a decade and
of the workplace for over a decade and
of the workplace for over a decade and some of you might be able to relate at
some of you might be able to relate at
some of you might be able to relate at this time I had been thrown into a whole
this time I had been thrown into a whole
this time I had been thrown into a whole new world I was feeling a little bit
new world I was feeling a little bit
new world I was feeling a little bit disconnected overwhelmed and I had lost
disconnected overwhelmed and I had lost
disconnected overwhelmed and I had lost some confidence my husband and I we had
some confidence my husband and I we had
some confidence my husband and I we had been invited to a drinks event and I
been invited to a drinks event and I
been invited to a drinks event and I thought that after so many weeks at home
thought that after so many weeks at home
thought that after so many weeks at home it would be very nice to go so I picked
it would be very nice to go so I picked
it would be very nice to go so I picked my very tired self up I showered I put
my very tired self up I showered I put
my very tired self up I showered I put on clean clothes these were big deals in
on clean clothes these were big deals in
on clean clothes these were big deals in those days and off I went I bumped into
those days and off I went I bumped into
those days and off I went I bumped into this guy at the bar he said hello and he
this guy at the bar he said hello and he
this guy at the bar he said hello and he told me he was an accountant and he
told me he was an accountant and he
told me he was an accountant and he asked me what I did so I just
asked me what I did so I just
asked me what I did so I just instinctively replied and I said I’m on
instinctively replied and I said I’m on
instinctively replied and I said I’m on maternity leave he just looked at me he
maternity leave he just looked at me he
maternity leave he just looked at me he looked turned around and he just walked
looked turned around and he just walked
looked turned around and he just walked away no more small talk no more chitchat
away no more small talk no more chitchat
away no more small talk no more chitchat that’s it he just went you see he was
that’s it he just went you see he was
that’s it he just went you see he was there to network if he had spent five or
there to network if he had spent five or
there to network if he had spent five or ten more seconds talking to me I think
ten more seconds talking to me I think
ten more seconds talking to me I think he would have found out what my previous
he would have found out what my previous
he would have found out what my previous day job was and it would have sparked
day job was and it would have sparked
day job was and it would have sparked his interest or fit his agenda in our
his interest or fit his agenda in our
his interest or fit his agenda in our quantified world today we seem to
quantified world today we seem to
quantified world today we seem to measure success or potential success in
measure success or potential success in
measure success or potential success in numbers wealth social media followers
numbers wealth social media followers
numbers wealth social media followers and we give each other easily
and we give each other easily
and we give each other easily qualifiable labels doctor dentist
qualifiable labels doctor dentist
qualifiable labels doctor dentist accountant we seem to sometimes measure
accountant we seem to sometimes measure
accountant we seem to sometimes measure people for what they’re worth
people for what they’re worth
people for what they’re worth or what worth they can give to you if
or what worth they can give to you if
or what worth they can give to you if you ask me in my opinion there’s one
you ask me in my opinion there’s one
you ask me in my opinion there’s one unquantifiable thing that that guy at
unquantifiable thing that that guy at
unquantifiable thing that that guy at the bar forgot about many of us have it
the bar forgot about many of us have it
the bar forgot about many of us have it the more you use it the more it grows
the more you use it the more it grows
the more you use it the more it grows and it has the power not only to change
and it has the power not only to change
and it has the power not only to change our own world but the wider world around
our own world but the wider world around
our own world but the wider world around us friendship I remember a simpler time
us friendship I remember a simpler time
us friendship I remember a simpler time I remember when we just met people and
I remember when we just met people and
I remember when we just met people and took some time and interest found
took some time and interest found
took some time and interest found commonality we perhaps learnt something
commonality we perhaps learnt something
commonality we perhaps learnt something or nothing really that important about
or nothing really that important about
or nothing really that important about one another but just enough to have a
one another but just enough to have a
one another but just enough to have a conversation and understanding and a
conversation and understanding and a
conversation and understanding and a connection haven’t we over complicated
connection haven’t we over complicated
connection haven’t we over complicated life today some people view others as
life today some people view others as
life today some people view others as social capital we network it’s something
social capital we network it’s something
social capital we network it’s something really complicated they’re books written
really complicated they’re books written
really complicated they’re books written on the subject and instructions on how
on the subject and instructions on how
on the subject and instructions on how to do it the implication is that you
to do it the implication is that you
to do it the implication is that you meet people for a specific purpose and
meet people for a specific purpose and
meet people for a specific purpose and if that purpose isn’t easily apparent
if that purpose isn’t easily apparent
if that purpose isn’t easily apparent whether you just move over to the next
whether you just move over to the next
whether you just move over to the next person and it seems that people must
person and it seems that people must
person and it seems that people must have something to offer to come to these
have something to offer to come to these
have something to offer to come to these places of networking and if that offer
places of networking and if that offer
places of networking and if that offer isn’t easily quantifiable or qualifiable
isn’t easily quantifiable or qualifiable
isn’t easily quantifiable or qualifiable or perhaps once you just stay at home we
or perhaps once you just stay at home we
or perhaps once you just stay at home we need to go back to basics we need to go
need to go back to basics we need to go
need to go back to basics we need to go back to making friends and connecting
back to making friends and connecting
back to making friends and connecting with people that is meeting everybody
with people that is meeting everybody
with people that is meeting everybody with an open mind with the premise that
with an open mind with the premise that
with an open mind with the premise that everyone has something to teach you who
everyone has something to teach you who
everyone has something to teach you who you want to be who you don’t want to be
you want to be who you don’t want to be
you want to be who you don’t want to be to reaffirm a belief or to a challenge
to reaffirm a belief or to a challenge
to reaffirm a belief or to a challenge it we need to go beyond the specific
it we need to go beyond the specific
it we need to go beyond the specific agenda we sometimes meet people for and
agenda we sometimes meet people for and
agenda we sometimes meet people for and when we do that we learn so much about
when we do that we learn so much about
when we do that we learn so much about each other
each other
each other likes dislikes opinions held skills
likes dislikes opinions held skills
likes dislikes opinions held skills talent and if we don’t do that we risk
talent and if we don’t do that we risk
talent and if we don’t do that we risk out on missing out on so much potential
out on missing out on so much potential
out on missing out on so much potential connectivity now this and connectivity
connectivity now this and connectivity
connectivity now this and connectivity it’s not a dirty word it doesn’t mean
it’s not a dirty word it doesn’t mean
it’s not a dirty word it doesn’t mean hanging out in big delegations or being
hanging out in big delegations or being
hanging out in big delegations or being a socialite it just means viewing the
a socialite it just means viewing the
a socialite it just means viewing the world as relationship-based again and
world as relationship-based again and
world as relationship-based again and resisting their urged narrowly mindedly
resisting their urged narrowly mindedly
resisting their urged narrowly mindedly Network quantify or qualify like my
Network quantify or qualify like my
Network quantify or qualify like my neighbor for example I met her through
neighbor for example I met her through
neighbor for example I met her through another neighbor and beyond the
another neighbor and beyond the
another neighbor and beyond the neighborly thing of swapping house keys
neighborly thing of swapping house keys
neighborly thing of swapping house keys in case of emergencies beyond that she
in case of emergencies beyond that she
in case of emergencies beyond that she was exceptionally creative she could put
was exceptionally creative she could put
was exceptionally creative she could put together a spreadsheet in a website you
together a spreadsheet in a website you
together a spreadsheet in a website you know the flash of an eye she was
know the flash of an eye she was
know the flash of an eye she was passionate about putting community and
passionate about putting community and
passionate about putting community and social events together she can make you
social events together she can make you
social events together she can make you a hundred and fifty mini desserts in
a hundred and fifty mini desserts in
a hundred and fifty mini desserts in like 150 seconds and three flavors to
like 150 seconds and three flavors to
like 150 seconds and three flavors to boot
boot
boot all this girl I met through work she was
all this girl I met through work she was
all this girl I met through work she was an amazing entrepreneur but beyond that
an amazing entrepreneur but beyond that
an amazing entrepreneur but beyond that she had this amazing story of how she
she had this amazing story of how she
she had this amazing story of how she turned her hobby into an enterprise she
turned her hobby into an enterprise she
turned her hobby into an enterprise she did it at a particularly turbulent time
did it at a particularly turbulent time
did it at a particularly turbulent time in her life where she was left penniless
in her life where she was left penniless
in her life where she was left penniless with a small family to feed or some of
with a small family to feed or some of
with a small family to feed or some of the mums that I was meeting at the
the mums that I was meeting at the
the mums that I was meeting at the nursery doors every morning I mean most
nursery doors every morning I mean most
nursery doors every morning I mean most them just wanted a good night’s sleep
them just wanted a good night’s sleep
them just wanted a good night’s sleep but beyond that some of them were
but beyond that some of them were
but beyond that some of them were looking for a new balance a new
looking for a new balance a new
looking for a new balance a new direction but had no idea of where
direction but had no idea of where
direction but had no idea of where go or have to find it for the most part
go or have to find it for the most part
go or have to find it for the most part I never considered any of these people
I never considered any of these people
I never considered any of these people and what part of my network they were
and what part of my network they were
and what part of my network they were just really simply my friends now we
just really simply my friends now we
just really simply my friends now we meet people at all stages throughout our
meet people at all stages throughout our
meet people at all stages throughout our life education work social interest
life education work social interest
life education work social interest groups are the friends and naturally we
groups are the friends and naturally we
groups are the friends and naturally we interact with some people more than
interact with some people more than
interact with some people more than others at different phases of our life
others at different phases of our life
others at different phases of our life and some friendships even become dormant
and some friendships even become dormant
and some friendships even become dormant but they’re always there in the
but they’re always there in the
but they’re always there in the background going through the same
background going through the same
background going through the same changes and you know things as you
changes and you know things as you
changes and you know things as you friendships change some strengthens some
friendships change some strengthens some
friendships change some strengthens some weaken and there are people that we
weaken and there are people that we
weaken and there are people that we connect with in varying degree and there
connect with in varying degree and there
connect with in varying degree and there are always people we are not going to
are always people we are not going to
are always people we are not going to connect with but the point is each one
connect with but the point is each one
connect with but the point is each one is a connection a friendly fund of
is a connection a friendly fund of
is a connection a friendly fund of connections to draw from a fraternity of
connections to draw from a fraternity of
connections to draw from a fraternity of people a fraternity of friends always
people a fraternity of friends always
people a fraternity of friends always accumulating growing with different
accumulating growing with different
accumulating growing with different skills talents abilities and advice it’s
skills talents abilities and advice it’s
skills talents abilities and advice it’s a friendship fraternity has anyone
a friendship fraternity has anyone
a friendship fraternity has anyone played that degree of separation game
played that degree of separation game
played that degree of separation game where you figure out how many
where you figure out how many
where you figure out how many connections between you and another
connections between you and another
connections between you and another person the theory is that we are all
person the theory is that we are all
person the theory is that we are all connected on this earth within six
connected on this earth within six
connected on this earth within six connections or less people usually pay
connections or less people usually pay
connections or less people usually pay it with famous people like Barack Obama
it with famous people like Barack Obama
it with famous people like Barack Obama for me my Member of Parliament David
for me my Member of Parliament David
for me my Member of Parliament David Cameron Barrack Obama people used to
Cameron Barrack Obama people used to
Cameron Barrack Obama people used to play in the 90s with Hollywood actor
play in the 90s with Hollywood actor
play in the 90s with Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon me the film director going
Kevin Bacon me the film director going
Kevin Bacon me the film director going to cheder who spoke at the social
to cheder who spoke at the social
to cheder who spoke at the social initiative I run that’s got me to
initiative I run that’s got me to
initiative I run that’s got me to Hollywood must be a couple more from
Hollywood must be a couple more from
Hollywood must be a couple more from there the theory is that a friend of a
there the theory is that a friend of a
there the theory is that a friend of a friend can lead you to anyone a friend
friend can lead you to anyone a friend
friend can lead you to anyone a friend of a friend can lead you anywhere now it
of a friend can lead you anywhere now it
of a friend can lead you anywhere now it seems sometimes that were conditioned to
seems sometimes that were conditioned to
seems sometimes that were conditioned to keep our connection secret and of course
keep our connection secret and of course
keep our connection secret and of course there are times where this is wholly
there are times where this is wholly
there are times where this is wholly appropriate and necessary but if the
appropriate and necessary but if the
appropriate and necessary but if the task at hand doesn’t have a top-secret
task at hand doesn’t have a top-secret
task at hand doesn’t have a top-secret element why not share even if there is
element why not share even if there is
element why not share even if there is no benefit to you why well I believe
no benefit to you why well I believe
no benefit to you why well I believe that there are sometimes incorrect
that there are sometimes incorrect
that there are sometimes incorrect assumptions in some social and economic
assumptions in some social and economic
assumptions in some social and economic theory you know the one that says that
theory you know the one that says that
theory you know the one that says that we’re all really selfish species and if
we’re all really selfish species and if
we’re all really selfish species and if I was really really wrong I don’t think
I was really really wrong I don’t think
I was really really wrong I don’t think any of us would be here today we are the
any of us would be here today we are the
any of us would be here today we are the culmination of
culmination of
culmination of nations working together you see it in
nations working together you see it in
nations working together you see it in the small actions of everyday people
the small actions of everyday people
the small actions of everyday people whether it’s holding a door open getting
whether it’s holding a door open getting
whether it’s holding a door open getting out the way for emergency vehicles
out the way for emergency vehicles
out the way for emergency vehicles rallying together in times of crisis
rallying together in times of crisis
rallying together in times of crisis there are so many things that we do
there are so many things that we do
there are so many things that we do without expectation of benefit or reward
without expectation of benefit or reward
without expectation of benefit or reward and perhaps being a connector is one of
and perhaps being a connector is one of
and perhaps being a connector is one of them that some have just forgotten
remember that nice man at the bar I told
remember that nice man at the bar I told you about I may have had absolutely no
you about I may have had absolutely no
you about I may have had absolutely no worth for him whatsoever but he forever
worth for him whatsoever but he forever
worth for him whatsoever but he forever changed my view on making friends
changed my view on making friends
changed my view on making friends networking and meeting people in ancient
networking and meeting people in ancient
networking and meeting people in ancient Greece the marketplace was a place not
Greece the marketplace was a place not
Greece the marketplace was a place not only to buy goods and services but to
only to buy goods and services but to
only to buy goods and services but to meet people to introduce innovation to
meet people to introduce innovation to
meet people to introduce innovation to participate in conversation debate to
participate in conversation debate to
participate in conversation debate to challenge ideas isn’t that an amazing
challenge ideas isn’t that an amazing
challenge ideas isn’t that an amazing thing I want to do something similar I
thing I want to do something similar I
thing I want to do something similar I wanted to create a place where people
wanted to create a place where people
wanted to create a place where people could come to be inspired horizons
could come to be inspired horizons
could come to be inspired horizons broadened a place where you could be
broadened a place where you could be
broadened a place where you could be engaged encouraged empowered and enabled
engaged encouraged empowered and enabled
engaged encouraged empowered and enabled a place where the unconnected could meet
a place where the unconnected could meet
a place where the unconnected could meet the connected and the connected could
the connected and the connected could
the connected and the connected could further connect a place to be valued so
further connect a place to be valued so
further connect a place to be valued so with a handful of connections from my
with a handful of connections from my
with a handful of connections from my fraternity of friends I and my very
fraternity of friends I and my very
fraternity of friends I and my very organized neighbor together we set up a
organized neighbor together we set up a
organized neighbor together we set up a social initiative all about connecting
social initiative all about connecting
social initiative all about connecting people and sharing stories not
people and sharing stories not
people and sharing stories not connecting people for any immediate gain
connecting people for any immediate gain
connecting people for any immediate gain but just so that one day you may know
but just so that one day you may know
but just so that one day you may know somebody for whatever that special thing
somebody for whatever that special thing
somebody for whatever that special thing is that makes a difference in your life
is that makes a difference in your life
is that makes a difference in your life as you see it professional advice
as you see it professional advice
as you see it professional advice personal support friendship respite it’s
personal support friendship respite it’s
personal support friendship respite it’s a place where you can hear stories about
a place where you can hear stories about
a place where you can hear stories about how an entrepreneur set up an enterprise
how an entrepreneur set up an enterprise
how an entrepreneur set up an enterprise from a hobby how somebody overcome
from a hobby how somebody overcome
from a hobby how somebody overcome adversity and triumph a place where you
adversity and triumph a place where you
adversity and triumph a place where you can hear the stories of others and how
can hear the stories of others and how
can hear the stories of others and how they have navigated their paths to find
they have navigated their paths to find
they have navigated their paths to find the answers to some of the balances that
the answers to some of the balances that
the answers to some of the balances that you may now seek I think there is an
you may now seek I think there is an
you may now seek I think there is an incorrect assumption sometimes that when
incorrect assumption sometimes that when
incorrect assumption sometimes that when we connect we diminish ourselves I think
we connect we diminish ourselves I think
we connect we diminish ourselves I think that we should see ourselves as candles
that we should see ourselves as candles
that we should see ourselves as candles we know that when a candle likes another
we know that when a candle likes another
we know that when a candle likes another candle it’s not diminished in any way a
candle it’s not diminished in any way a
candle it’s not diminished in any way a candle can light a hundred candles a
candle can light a hundred candles a
candle can light a hundred candles a thousand candle
thousand candle
thousand candle candle can light a bonfire a candle can
candle can light a bonfire a candle can
candle can light a bonfire a candle can light the next innovative that can think
light the next innovative that can think
light the next innovative that can think that can change the world in our world
that can change the world in our world
that can change the world in our world today we’re really lucky we have the
today we’re really lucky we have the
today we’re really lucky we have the online world in the real world and
online world in the real world and
online world in the real world and obviously they are the obvious caveats
obviously they are the obvious caveats
obviously they are the obvious caveats about not taking everything you see
about not taking everything you see
about not taking everything you see online as gospel and that’s true for the
online as gospel and that’s true for the
online as gospel and that’s true for the real world too but the Internet has
real world too but the Internet has
real world too but the Internet has enabled us to connect exponentially both
enabled us to connect exponentially both
enabled us to connect exponentially both worlds complement each other online
worlds complement each other online
worlds complement each other online groups meet in real life and real life
groups meet in real life and real life
groups meet in real life and real life groups meet meet more people online we
groups meet meet more people online we
groups meet meet more people online we have to remember that search engines
have to remember that search engines
have to remember that search engines don’t always have all the answers and if
don’t always have all the answers and if
don’t always have all the answers and if they do they don’t have the ability to
they do they don’t have the ability to
they do they don’t have the ability to go beyond the question to find all that
go beyond the question to find all that
go beyond the question to find all that hidden connectivity search engines they
hidden connectivity search engines they
hidden connectivity search engines they answer the questions that you posed but
answer the questions that you posed but
answer the questions that you posed but friends they can help you draw out the
friends they can help you draw out the
friends they can help you draw out the question in the first place
so let me ask you who do you know and
so let me ask you who do you know and how far can you go and what can you do
how far can you go and what can you do
how far can you go and what can you do and it is not about being self-serving
and it is not about being self-serving
and it is not about being self-serving it’s about working together for societal
it’s about working together for societal
it’s about working together for societal change for health and well-being for
change for health and well-being for
change for health and well-being for innovation maybe even for enterprise you
innovation maybe even for enterprise you
innovation maybe even for enterprise you see we need to go back to basics I mean
see we need to go back to basics I mean
see we need to go back to basics I mean to put friendships back at the heart of
to put friendships back at the heart of
to put friendships back at the heart of our networks and when we do that when we
our networks and when we do that when we
our networks and when we do that when we use I Nate altruism to connect and
use I Nate altruism to connect and
use I Nate altruism to connect and create opportunity well then our worth
create opportunity well then our worth
create opportunity well then our worth is immeasurable and our potential impact
is immeasurable and our potential impact
is immeasurable and our potential impact it’s limitless
it’s limitless
it’s limitless thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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