Although my focus is on helping people develop and leverage networks to help them achieve career and business goals, networks are also a powerful force for social good. Modern technology has driven a huge growth in people using networks to promote awareness of key issues, raise money for charity and reduce loneliness for people feeling isolated. 

I hope you'll indulge me in a small scale experiment to capture the power of networks for a social good. 

My good friend and occasional mentor Alan Stevens and his family recently suffered from a break in at their home in East London. A lot of valuable items were taken, much of it replaceable. However, as with many such burglaries, irreplaceable items of huge sentimental value were also removed. 

Among the latter haul was Alan's father's camera equipment. His father was a professional photographer who died in 1962 and the set is quite unique. The fact that the equipment is so unique could be an advantage to Alan, however. There must be a limited market to dispose of such equipment and it would be instantly recognisable. 

So, can I ask you a small favour? Would you share this blog? Share it with friends you have who are amateur or professional photographers. Share it with people you know who deal in such equipment. Or just post it on Facebook or Twitter so that your friends can be aware. 

Wouldn't it be a great story if the power of our collective networks can help Alan recover his father's camera equipment? 

Andy 

� All material copyright H & A Lopata ltd 2014. All rights reserved.

 

I recently spoke to members of The Institute of Residential Property Management about the need for a networking strategy. 

Here's a short clip from my talk where I explain why people are your biggest resource and, unless you are naturally a brilliant networker, a strategy can make all the difference. 

Why do you need a networking strategy?

Interviewing the Experts: "Can I have your sister's number?"

In 'Recommended' I talk about how health clubs use 'Mud at the Wall' approaches to generate referrals that just don't work. 

One of my fellow speakers on my recent trip to Tehran was Paul Brown,  known as Mr Retention in the healthcare industry. Naturally, I had to ask Paul about his best approaches for health clubs to generate referrals. And his advice is relevant to other businesses too.  

29 impressions in just over 3 minutes. This is very clever, even if some impressions are somewhat better than others!