Sometimes we all just need a little help...

#GivGavAGig

OK all, so full disclosure here first; Gaven Whitaker (linkedin.com/in/gaven-whitaker) is one of my closest friends. He is also however, one if the most conscientious, driven and integrity led people I have ever met. 

This is not one of my usual posts, and I have to admit that when I usually see posts like this, I occasionally roll my eyes. But then, to be fair I usually click on the “like” button because I fundamentally believe that everyone deserves a chance to make the best of their life for themselves and their family. When we find ourselves without a job and things start to get tight, well to be frank, it sucks. Sometimes we all just need a little help…

I need help from you guys. Gaven is unfortunately out of work and actually for no fault of his own. This isn’t a sob story (he would slap me for that and he's bigger than I am), it’s actually a networking opportunity for all of you. So please spread the word.

We’ve all been there, (some of us like me been there a lot of times!!). You finish your last assignment and you think you have ages to get sorted on the next gig and then…. time just keeps on moving….

This post is to hopefully help more people to get to know the Gaven I know, and if you will allow me to be a blunt Yorkshireman for just one moment, if you can’t directly help him yourself, and give this guy an opportunity to at least talk to you about working with you, then do the right thing and hit the “like” button so that your network can get to know him and see where he can add value to their business. 

It does feels a bit daft that for a guy that owns an ISP over here in Kenya, this is probably the first time that this old dinosaur has actually tried using the power of a social network (wow now I do sound old), but let’s see if it can work. 

If you want stuff to get done, Gaven is your guy. You want big angry grumpy customers looking after with a calm, professional and balanced demeanour, then he’s the one you would ask to do it. He’s a proper grown up, yet as we all know well in the world of Sales, Account Management, Business Development and Relationship Management, sometimes (although none of us would ever admit it), perhaps age does get taken into account. We may be no spring chickens (we’re not dead or over the hill yet either), but what we do have is a world of experience and that’s really valuable in looking after big customers and just getting sh*t done!

Seriously, this guy is awesome, a great customer facing communicator, a networker, a fixer. You could use him as your chief of staff to help you out and get stuff done across teams within your business, as a face to a customer, a team leader driving business, or as someone to connect it all together. 

The real value however that never comes out on CV’s or LinkedIn, is HOW he goes about managing those relationships. HOW he gets people to do things. His personality, inherent positivity and just relentless energy to keep on going to get the job done (when many including myself would have just given up) is what really makes the difference. Maybe serving his country in the British Army all those years ago gave him the grounding he has, but he’s a hundred times better than I could ever be. 

This guy has worked for me before, he was fantastic. I would hire him tomorrow in a heartbeat, any day, every day. Unfortunately for me, his family is in Yorkshire and he didn’t fancy a commute to Nairobi!

Bluntly put, either get in contact to give Gaven an opportunity to show you how he can add value to your business or hit "like" so at least your network can.

Thanks in advance for your help.

#GivGavAGig