If you really want to build connections, you don't need an agenda.

I have been going to meetings with my stakeholder, agenda-free.

To most people this is counter-intuitive. 

But in recent years, I noticed an increase in more connectedness just because I'm not selling any widget, app, product, service, 50/50 tickets, a cause, or an agenda.

I'm sharing my lessons learned, my insights gained from working with other organizations, some perspectives that could help them on the spot, and lots of valuable operational details they can help co-create with me.

I'm being present, focused, and light. 

They don't want to be sold, they want to be heard. 

They want to be part of what your trying to be build- your raison d'etre. 

Don't come knocking down doors with some prescription. It's not going to work. 

They will clamp down and leave the discussion before it's ended. 

You wouldn't know the extent of the issues until you listen and ask some questions. 

Build connections that can outlast your own little agenda, that could multiply in many directions, business or personal or both. 

Come as a stranger and leave as a vital partner. 

You will never lose that way. 

​

Two Saturdays ago, we went out fishing on a lake near us.

We went for the first few hours to the favorite spot where we usually, I would say 75% of the time catch fish. There were bites but nothing moved much. We got one fish, that's all.

So we decided , us ladies to get to the next part of the lake, where the guys were not that keen. But of course, having been out for a while, we wanted to get more action. So we went, and after another hour or so, no bites, no fish, nothing.

My father-in-law said that maybe we should just trawl and see what's inside these waters. So we did, and we caught two by just crisscrossing the lake going back to the same old original spot that we had earlier. 

Back to the same spot, we waited for an hour and a half. No bites, no fish this time.

Everybody immediately agreed, that maybe we should just trawl. Trawling is an accidental success that we should maximize. 

Sure thing, we trawled to the farthest left and to the farthest right section of the lake, but lo and behold, no fish. It was getting late and it was time to go home.

Positioning is important. I recall what one business trainer would lecture that, "It's all about positioning." 

What do you do when there's no bite?  Do you move around to get to where your customers might congregate, perhaps a watering hole or a hub? Do you modify your strategies for outreach? Do you sit tight until new opportunities arise for you to take advantage of? 

Patient waiting, positioning, and creative outreach. That will get you your fish and lots of them. The key is to move around and not get stale. 

For the past few weeks, I have been busy preparing my community for its first beta program. I know I have a few interests but as I looked at their profiles in their application, I noticed a few things.

These are the people that are undermarketed, under-reached, and would be unable to respond to any North American programs unless, these programs are totally free or heavily subsidized. 

Some of them do not have a credit card system or functional online payment system in their countries.

Some have no means whatsoever to afford any continuing education or coaching support.

Some have a variety of outstanding responsibilities and will not have the time.

Some will have it for later and for next year.

This is the reality of the market. I am continuously listening and reiterating to determine what seemed to be the best course of action, the best product, and the best market and for the right value.

If you're not listening to your market, you're listening more to yourself, which is the default position.

There is no first-time got-it-right kind of way. Everybody's adjusting and reframing.

​What are you reiterating today? What is this reiteration based from?