I’ve had a Linkedin profile for almost a year now, dabbled with other social media sites, micro-blogged on Twitter, met many local business people since I left the corporate world last year, however I’ve never yet blogged.
A fellow networker, Kesh Morjaria, from the Best of Brent, recently told me, “John, you must blog!” My immediate thoughts were, “Me?! No-one will read my blogs!” Well, now I’ve decided to take yet another ‘leap of faith’, (more about that in a future blog!), and only time will tell if my fears about blogging were justified! So here goes, people…
I’m John Coupland, a businessman living in the suburbs of London, and I want to share what I’ve learned about dealing with people over my lifetime, and especially during my career.
Aren’t people fascinating?
Wikipedia’s definition of “people:” “…as a singular noun, a group of humans, either with unspecified traits, or specific characteristics…”
“Specific characteristics” – Sure! I think most of us accept that we have specific characteristics, but the mind boggles with what’s meant by “unspecified traits”. Please feel free to comment about this, as I’m intrigued!
Over the next few weeks, I will share with you my experiences, good and bad, in dealing with people; my successes and also my mistakes, from which I’ve learned. I will share my tips – and those of whom I perceive to be the experts – on how to be more effective at client engagement and networking.
To protect confidentiality, no real names will be used – unless I have first sought 100% consent in advance from those whose names I use, as in the case of Kesh, above.
I’d value your feedback, as we can learn and develop together as we go along. What’s more, I won’t expect everyone to agree with my views, nor my advice for that matter. Just because I feel comfortable in my approach, doesn’t mean that everyone will!
So what makes me feel so special that I feel that I’m in a position to provide advice?
Simple – I don’t feel special.
What I can say is, I experienced some really humbling moments again, (which will remain private), that have made me reflect on my life so far and look at things in a different perspective than I would have done only a few months ago. I’ve also come to a point in my life where I feel more thankful for my blessings than I have done before. It’s people that have made me feel this way and, although I know it’ll sound a little mysterious, it has only recently begun to truly ‘click!’ I also feel privileged to have travelled the world over, having met and lived with people of many nationalities and all types of backgrounds. I will share my experiences in engaging with them too.
Here are some examples of the sort of people I have engaged with, whom I’m sure you can relate to:
the modest and the arrogant
the polite and the rude
the proud and the ashamed
the wealthy and the destitute
the positive and the negative
the happy and the saddened
the healthy and the ill
the hopeful and the despairing
From a professional point of view, I’ve always been in jobs and roles that have involved being in contact with many different people on a nomadic basis. The thought of sitting in an office looking at a screen day in, day out is suffocating for me. I’ve also worked professionally over the years both as a customer and a supplier, so I have experienced ‘both sides of the fence’.
I believe that, to succeed, it’s important to add value, i.e. What sets you apart from the others in the business world that would ensure that people will appreciate your skills & efforts and know that you will bring something to the table? Just as importantly, what impression will you leave them?
So, if you feel that I may be of help to you in some way, please feel free to check on my blogs and share your experiences & views too!
I will announce my new blogs using twitter, with a feed to Linkedin, however bookmarking my blog will make it a little easier for us to take this journey together. 
Till later. 
About me: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/networkerplus
Follow me: http://www.twitter.com/networkerplus
you’ve taken the plunge- congratulations!
would “unspecified traits” be the ones that we try to ignore about ourselves? hmmm; be interested on other’s thoughts on that
looking forward to hearing more, John
Marie
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Welcome to the blogosphere John!
A good first post.
Hi John ,
Looking forward to reading more. I think when you leave the corporate world its fantastic, my life has been so much richer as I have met so many different types of people and continue to do so on a daily basis, who are all so different from my old team colleagues. Don’t get me wrong I really liked most of the people I worked with and met on a daily basis- but we were all a bit the same and working for the same organisation we had become a little bit assimilated- a bit of a borg collective just to keep the BNI startrek theme going! Viva la difference I say. Best wishes Sheila
Ps I have started to Twitter and blog and will next revam linked in!!! Social Media here I come!
Excellent. You can count me in to follow you and, the consummate networker that you are, you have mentioned somebody that I would like an introduction to (Kesh). As fate has it I was talking to his colleague this afternoon!
Look forward to reading your thoughts ….. and meeting you in a fortnight´s time!
Steve
Well done John. I know more about you and look forward to our chat. You’ve created a little intrigue which will give us something else to chat about. I sense we have this “click” in common so that’s a great place to start.
Take care,
@jasoncobine
Hi John,
Great to see you jumping into the wierd and wonderful world of blogging with both feet – and what a great start. Intriguing, thought provoking and truly engaging. Looking forward to the next one.
As for “unspecified traits”. Isn’t that just about the same as “specified characterstics”?
Steve B
Interesting and well-writen blog
Thanks and best of luck
Norman
Hi John this first Blog post could not have been better.
Having spoken to you personally, what comes across is your sincerity and humble approach, leading by serving others as we agreed.
A great deal of your character comes across, which is absolutely central to any successful Blog, or for that matter, any business, pity is not enough people realise that fundamental point.
People are the foundation and knowing how to communicate effectively just like you do is all you need to create something pretty awesome (Henry Ford did ok just because he could handle people).
The layout is clean and simple; whatever you do keep it that way! the best Bloggers in the World do (witness Seth Godin)
I would suggest that you add “Retweet” and share on LinkedIn and Facebook buttons, this really helps that viral effect.
I am happy to help with any aspects, just ask.
I’m convinced that this Blog will be a huge success; I would suggest that one day you should allocate time to post consistently around twice a week for best effect.
I wish you every success and shall follow with interest!
Excellent to see you taking the plunge, I leanred so much about myself and my communication style when I started to Blog, it also led to me being brave enough to write my book.
It was good to see you last night att he Ecademy Event and I also look forward to you sharing your thoughts on Ecademy John- there your Blog can be seen by thousands of people
Keep Blogging..
Thanks everyone for your kind comments and tips which inspire me immensely to take this forward and write as meaningfully as I can. Not exactly sure when my next post is yet, however, I now have more ideas to take this forward and it’ll be fairly soon.
Good networking.
John
Hi John,
Looking forward to reading more of your posts!
Jason –
BNI & Referral Institute
http://www.jasonhager.com
Hi!! Not just reading about my self in your blogs…..:-) You have a good pen man!
and a good brain!
Now I’m a follower!
Bjorn
Hi John
Like me, you are new to the world of blogging. Its great that we have made that step and I cant agree more about adding value to others – that very much aligns with my beliefs and values.
Looking forward to hearing more from you
Parag