FSB (The Real Value)

OK, so I attended an FSB event yesterday, whilst intently listening to the FSB area representative about all the amazing benefits (yes, for me a business person working exclusively for myself and my customers, the security of FSB is amazing), my mind started to wonder about the benefits that the FSB doesn't tell you about.

I fully started trading as a business back in April 2017, one of my first goals I set was to do a full month of networking, so I set May 2017 as the month of networking and of I went, not knowing anything about networking at all.

One of my very first events were attending East End connections in Glasgow. An amazing event and one NOT to be missed for people serious about getting out there and noticed, (Fiona Colbron-Brown, you're a star).

As you do in a lot of these networking events you meet the givers (those who actually care what you do and try to help you out) & takers (those who are only interested in what you can give them).

I was very fortunate to meet an FSB representative (Gerry Brennan) who talked me through the networking scene highs and lows, then we sat down had a coffee he asked about my business and asked me some very relevant question around my business set up. Being corporate for most of my career I always had someone to take care of these requirements and now someone was asking me if I had them? NO, I did not have any protection, I asked Gerry to sort me and my business partner out with our memberships, all sorted, but this is NOT the reason for this article.

What Gerry actually brought to me, my business partner & my business was something I never thought would happen. A network of people just like me, people who actually care, givers, who give because they can, like-minded people. That day Gerry introduced me to another few networking friends of his (Danny Bullock, Lee Foster) who have now become not only my trusted advisors, friends and colleagues but part of my core networking group. This small network then went on to introduce me to other members of their network, people they know like and trust, givers, people who care about helping others (Paula Wingate, Farah Hussian, James Peters, Kieran Aitken, Lee-Ann McConnell, Colin McKeand, Bodil McCaskill, Trish Mullen and lots of others, sorry if I missed you). These people have now become my trusted network of friends and advisers, people whom I would and have recommended without a doubt.

So FSB is NOT just an amazing security bubble rap for your business, it offers a whole lot more. If you're serious about networking, like to give and help as much as receive then I would certainly be reaching out to your local FSB advisors. Gerry Brennan, Lee Foster, Danny Bulloch, you're worth your weight in gold lads and thank you for your support.

James Fleming

The Power Within Coaching Ltd