Making The Right Connection [to succeed]

Before I plunged into micro entrepreneurship, I often hear from business people that one of the ingredients for a successful venture is your network or connection. I Agree, as an HR Executive of 2 of the leading companies in PH [banking/property management and high end car distributorship], I find the value of right connections.

On another note, in one of my meetings with 2 successful young entrepreneurs, they are complaining of “mafia like” attitude of another group who denied and blocked referrals for them because they do not belong . While I do not agree to the mafia approach, this is reality.

With this, allow me to share  not only my thoughts on the matter, but my experiences too. I am a firm believer that for every door of opportunity that opens, “a human hand is on the door knob”. This is an undeniable fact.

I learned in my corporate life that people, rather than allow the normal and rightful process [for the “human hand” to open the door], some  find creative ways to “influence” so  the  door can be opened “immediately”.

1. By means of gifts, if not outright bribe.
2. By using the reputation built by the patriarch behind the “surname”
3. By using relationships.
4. By “being beholden”
5. By threats
6. By any means that can manipulate

While these can give the desired result, it will  either  be short lived or troublesome. Any process that was followed will deliver a knot lower [or even more] than the intended result. i.e., not following cooking instructions or altering the course of nature.

A better approach would be, and this is the path I have chosen, is to  let process take it’s course. If someone opens a door of opportunity, it’s because of grace, God’s favor it is, and not my own doing.

But why would I want this?

Abrahams example

“I make a promise to the Lord, the God Most High, who made heaven and earth.23 I promise that I will not keep anything that is yours. I will not keep even a thread or a sandal strap so that you cannot say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ Genesis 14:22-23 (NCV)

It is better to lift up God behind a successful venture than get beholden to people, or pay your way.

I am a funny guy, I refuse to go with the flow, I almost shun the herd mentality. If this is the “in” thing, I would rather watch from a distance. If I find it value adding, I quietly  test the waters. A good example of this is social web, I am in the water so to speak, because this is beneficial. BUT, I don’t join the herd for every sensational issue there is. I would rather look at the horizon and prepare for what is to come, when everyone else is looking the other way.

God will give us an idea to be great, to be the head and not the tail. But these ideas will not have flesh and bone unless we embrace it, make a step of faith and jumpstart a project. People will recognize the nobility behind a God given idea.  I received messages across the globe who are following the pattern I have set. A God given idea can  win the heart and support of people until this becomes “the next big thing”.

Time and again, I politely refused to work with people who want to take credit for what was supposedly Gods’. There are individuals who would like to ride on with your project, not because they are sincere of helping, but for the reciprocated benefit it can give them. Please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying, x deals or sponsorships are bad. But if in the process, because of what they  bring on the table, they will grab the credit, then, it’s better to walk away.

Another reason why I chose this path is

The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. Proverbs 10:22

And this is something that people must figure out,

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD;  he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Prov 21:1 [NIV]

At the end of the day, regardless of the efforts we make to influence decision makers, it is God’s call. Therefore, if with or without your intervention, God can influence people to do it for you, why stress yourself on this and beholden yourself to another person unnecessarily?

The Right Connection

6 Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success. Prov 3:6 [NCV]

18 Riches and honor are mine to give. So are wealth and lasting success. Prov 8:18 [NCV]

In the course of my work life, I got hired, promoted, offered an executive postion, etc. Not because I know the people who opened the door, but because I stayed connected to the blesser. Seek the blesser, and blessings will follow. If I may say again

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD;  he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Prov 21:1 [NIV]

Success is sweeter if you are not beholden to anyone [except God]. BUT, when God touched people to open a door for you, NEVER EVER forget them. Give  credit, respect and honor where and when it is due.

Networking is not bad, and it’s cool to earn and achieve our goals thru our network, but it’s way better if they give this to you without undue “influence” exerted on people.