I’ve never been a huge fan of traditional networking just for the sake of it. The ‘standing around with a cocktail and business cards’ thing never really appealed. Call me old-fashioned but I think I’d rather be recommended in business based on my skills, talents and previous achievements in the field, rather than just because I was at the right ‘after-5pm function’. Of course, face-to-face relationship building can and will never be replaced, but selectivity is key. Actually making an effort is vital too, being in the right place at the right time just isn’t enough.

However, glitzy functions aside, it can hardly be denied: People is what it is all about. This isn’t a new sentiment, but one that seems to be oft-forgotten. The people in your business, the ones who promote, support and invest in it, and the ones you sell your products or services to. This is the most important element in any transaction, and it’s also what makes business fun!

There’s an email forward that’s doing the rounds at the moment. It tells the story of Charles Plumb, a US jet pilot in Vietnam, who, after 75 combat missions was shot down and ejected into enemy hands. Years later, after surviving 6 years in a communist camp, he was approached by a man in a restaurant: “He walked over to my table, looked down at me, pointed his finger in my face and said, “You’re Captain Plumb.”?I looked up and I said, “Yes sir, I’m Captain Plumb.”?He said, “You flew jet fighters in Vietnam. You were on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down. You parachuted into enemy hands and spent six years as a prisoner of war.” I said, “How in the world did you know all that?”?He replied, “Because, I packed your parachute.”

One of our most enjoyable goals here at IN-Business, is to seek out and highlight some of these truly inspirational people who pack our parachutes every day, folk who are everywhere, quietly making sure our businesses are the best they can be.

We’ve got some great profiles of inspirational people in this issue, from our covergirl Sarah Trotman to HRINZ CEO Beverley Main. Bill Gosling, founder of the … gives us a few insights too. PM John Key obviously gets the message as well, we’ve seen him out and about at a few Wellington business events of late.

While we’re on the topic of people and networks, I’ve started my social media/online networking ‘roadtest’ this issue, the first in a series we’ll be running about this new phenomenon. If you are wondering how it can help you in your business, follow my journey to find out more. I hope it will be useful!

Enjoy the read, send us your feedback and do spare some time this month to think about who’s packing your parachutes!