Yes, this is what we do.

“So Brad, how else do you make a living?” 

“What other business do you run?”

“Is this really your full-time job?” 

This is something I used to get asked a lot. And we still do now occasionally.

It used to grind on me. I wouldn't take it personally. It ground on me because the questions would come from the notion attached to business networking. That it’s something not taken seriously. That our efforts were being undermined and going unnoticed.

We now joke when we hear it. It acts as a drive. It fuels us to further pursue our mission.

Our mission?

To bring networking into the 21st century. To make it something you want to do. Rather than feel like you have to. An area in your business you invest your time, focus and budget. With objectives for the benefit of your business. Not float from event to event seeing what you can get.

Up until March, the mission was progressing nicely. Lots of growth plans. The team expanding. With exciting projects on the horizon.

Then came lockdown.

With that, a tsunami of decisions and scenarios to play out. For us, it became quite simple.

Adapt or don’t survive.

A team meeting to discuss contingency plans followed. Now reflecting back to that time, there’s something I’m incredibly proud of, there was not an ounce or even the slightest murmur of entertaining the latter. It just wasn’t an option.

It became clear what was needed. Our focus, energy and enthusiasm shifted to online events. How we can best support our members through this period.

The adaptation to online has been challenging, exciting, and ok, very stressful at times. But it’s been rewarding and enlightening. Learning new skills, ways of working and a deeper knowledge of our members.

It’s presenting long-term opportunities for us as a business. The ability to connect members with no geographic boundaries in a time effective manor is gratifying - but not easy.

Similarities are creeping in between online networking events and what face to face was becoming pre-lockdown. The sheer number of them. An overwhelming amount.

It’s easier than ever to consider joining an online networking event. But it ‘seems’ easier than ever to start one. On the face of it - yes, it is. No venue to worry about. Attendees not needing to travel to your event. You simply create a joining link and away you go.

Ohhh if only it was THAT easy.

I can categorically say running, hosting and delivering an effective online event is harder than face to face. Especially if you want to make it stand out from the myriad of online opportunities out there.

Making it purposeful. Rather than a chat. Gauging the room. Keeping attendees engaged. Sticking to a dynamic agenda. Maintaining fluidity. Driving conversation. I could go on.

Luckily, it’s what we do. What we are solely dedicated to do. Striving to improve, innovate and be at the leading edge of the networking marketplace. We don’t have any other business to run. We don’t have any other agenda. It is our business. With almost five years experience and 350+ face to face and online events doing so.

A big part of achieving that is valuing your most important commodity - time.

Whether that’s travelling to our events. Or logging in to an online meetup. You’ve taken time out of your day to do so. You’ve trusted us. We don’t want to let you down.

As well as valuing your time. Listening to you with the intent to learn and improve.

The success of Network My Club is ultimately based on the effectiveness and quality of our membership and events. That’s where our focus is. The success of our members. If this doesn’t happen, Network My Club doesn’t exist.

With this experience over the last couple of months. The feedback received. The adoption of online events and new technology by members. We will be continuing online events alongside our face to face schedule and are dedicated to do so.

Through adversity you can create opportunity. For us, it’s is adding an arm to our business in the long term. By throwing ourselves into it, we are failing, learning and adapting. But ultimately, we are improving. That’s what we are committed to do.

Our membership isn’t for everyone. We know that. But it works for hundreds of businesses and that’s where we focus our efforts. They are who we listen to. They are who help shape our experience. They are our members. The #NMCFamily.

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