One of the loveliest things about doing business in a community like Jersey or Guernsey is the proximity of people.
When trading conditions are hard, every meeting, connection and relationship matters all the more. When I first moved into self-employment my old mate Phil Balderson recommended a book that he’d found very useful in his own journey through businessland: Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz. (Available from Amazon UK here: http://amzn.to/R2Bifl. Not an affiliate link.)
It’s all about connecting. Connecting is a differentiating skill for success in business. For two given individuals with identical CVs, the one with the stronger connecting skills will be more likely to succeed. This isn’t about schmoozing or even about old school ties. It’s about the truth that ultimately all business decisions are taken by people, and that you are much more likely to succeed in business if you are adept at connecting with the right people.
Never Eat Alone is a manifesto for this approach to business and life, and also a supremely practical guide to how to become a connector.
I wholeheartedly recommend it.