I’m not really a card player; other than snap and Uno with the children, even then I always seem to loss! However, playing the other day I was contemplating the deck and in particular the suites. It occurred to me that the suites and the Kings in particular could represent the four elements of sound business.

King of Hearts: If you are passionate about your work it drives you to constantly want to do better. I was at an IT conference recently and a speaker talked inspiring about her passion and why she worked for a charity. She broke the word down to represent Patience, Action, Selflessness, Status Quo or rather not accepting it, Inspiration, Oration and Network. I could not have agreed more. I would add that patience and action are not mutually opposed. You have to be able to channel both so that you can find the logical, rational arguments, deliver them with a cool head and use your commitment to influence others. Above all you must be prepared to be different.

King of Diamond: the phrase “Cash is King” sums it up. If your business dose not have enough money to operate it dose not matter how great a product or idea you have you just are out of business. The ability to maintain a positive cash flow is closely linked to my next suite, Spades.

King of Spades: represents good old fashioned hard work. Another phrase that is often used in business is “fail to plan, plan to fail”. Planning at the strategic and operational levels is vital. Of course you can’t plan for every eventuality but you can minimise risk and maximise by planning. You can also put your self in the position of being able to take advantage of the unexpected opportunities when they arise.

King of Clubs: sticking with clichés, after all they are clichés for a reason; “In business it is not what you know but who you know that counts” My last suite is all about commitment and the over worked “Networking”. Although the expression irks me, it's so cynical. The insinuation is that you can be the smartest, wisest, most educated being this side of next Tuesday and you still won't succeed unless you schmooze. Networking isn't a new concept, though sales gurus and executive trainers would have you believe otherwise. Truth is, it takes people to help people in both profit and non-profit settings. One of the main problems with popular networking advice is it's based solely on numbers - with no nod to humanity. Sure, the more people you know, the more people will know about what you want to promote. However, it's also true that people can sense when they're being used. So, how does a person with ethics and a healthy sense of kindness work the networking angle without feeling like a total hypocrite? Here are some pointers I've picked up over the years:

1. You can network anywhere. You never know when you might find someone who wants to help you or whom you'll want to help. The same is true in cyberspace. Opportunities abound. You can make meaningful contacts almost anywhere provided you truly believe in helping others. So, don't limit yourself to networking only in professional settings.
2. Go where you feel comfortable. Sure, there are professional networking groups. But don't go to places because you feel that that is the place to go networking. Instead of being strategic to the exclusion of your feelings, pay attention to them. Go to meetings, lunches or social events precisely because you enjoy them. You'll be more natural in those environments and will be able to make truly useful connections.
3. Don't over market. We've all met the bore who won't stop talking about his or her accomplishments. Well, that same bore exists in the business world and in my experiance it is normally hot air. When you're talking with someone, make sure the conversation is truly two-way.
4. Elevator speeches sound exactly what they are; prepared pitches. Never sell a fake you. One of the tricks to networking is honesty. Of course, you should prepare some good talking points about your product (and you). But if you stick to a script you're bound to sound insincere.
5. Try to follow up. This isn't as easy as it sounds. Most of us don't have all the time in the world to send personal, hand-written notes to everyone we've met and with whom we felt a connection. At the very least, send hand-written notes to a few people with whom you really clicked. I firmly believe that's more effective than any kind of mass thank-you.
6. Keep in touch. Newsletters, emails, phone calls, dates, lunches, walks, and for some a round of golf . . there are many, many ways to keep yourself top-of-mind with other people. But the key here is to do something that you will both enjoy.

Remember: underlying all of these pointers is an assumption of activity. You can't network in a vacuum.

Guilt or commitment?

I just watched a documentary on BB1 about British Fashion Genius which I wanted to share with you because it really reflected my believe that charities are doing themselves and the sector a disservice by ‘guilting’ people in to sponsoring them.

On the programme, Jane Shepperton, the former brand director for Topshop who is credited with the store’s image and financial success is quoted as follows:

“If you buy a t-shirt for £2 obviously you are not paying for it but somebody is... the person who made that t shirt is clearly being paid an extremely low wage and probably not a living wage in order to make it.

But nobody likes to be driven by guilt, we need to make people feel good about what they are buying. What is sad at the moment is that consumers are not being offered exciting, interesting, well designed fair trade or ethically produced product and that’s a real shame. That’s where the industry needs to pull it socks up and put better design in.

It’s not enough to say “you should buy this because the people who made it are now being treated well, I know it looks like a sack but honestly, it will make you feel good” because it won’t!

To address this Shepperton, in collaboration with Oxfam, has begun an ethical fashion awareness campaign. Enlisting the help of the best of young British design talent (including Jonathon Saunders and Christopher Kane) Jane Shepperton and Oxfam are attempting to show how recycling and re-fashioning second hand clothes could provide a stylish and ethical alternative to fast fashion.

Progress So Far

Living up to the health heart rescue has got off to a slow start but I’m pleased to say that now I’m underway it is more pleasurable than I thought it was going to be.
I’ve been up to LA Fitness in Southampton, who have kindly donated five membership places to people who are willing to have their progress monitored, just like me. Well, maybe not just like me! I’ve given myself a couple of achievement goals. One to bring my BMI within the acceptable range and the other is to be fit enough to not only compete in but enjoy a fundraising challenge in 2009. So far I’ve managed to reduce the time it takes me to walk to work from the railway station, a little over 2 miles. My visits to LA Fitness are not yet regular enough to be considered habit but I’m certainly getting there. I’ve already reduced my weight to 14st 13lbs.