In the winter of 2006, after suffering from severe writer’s block, I had run out of things to write about in my regular column in The National Networker. I was really panicking because we were celebrating our first anniversary of existence and people were starting to get used to my regular submissions (if not my style of writing). I felt I owed something to our readers but lacked anything with which to “wow” them. But then I had an inspiration…since I was working so hard to sell the idea of networking being an up-and-coming industry, and after recently hearing then President of the
Therefore, a tradition was started, and I addressed a mostly U.S.-based audience at the time. Why me? Simply put; no one else was! Since then we’ve expanded and grown to include an ever-increasing global reader base. I feel blessed to continue this tradition for the fourth year in a row and I dedicate this article to all the readers of TNNW as well as anyone who believes in the power of networking. So without further ado…
(cue the fanfare, and please…no need to stand)
My fellow networkers of the world, it is with great pleasure that I address you all today at such a crucial time in our history.
We face many great challenges such as the world’s largest economic crisis since the 1930’s. In countries around the world people are losing jobs, unemployment is facing record levels and people stand in fear of losing their homes. Morale is low and people are desperately seeking salvation.
But my fellow networkers, despite the darkness that seems to loom before us we have the following:
· At a time when our current model and way of living no longer supports us, we recognize the need to change and have the desire to change now
· At a time when we look to others for support, news, a place to share ideas, learn from others and express ourselves, we have the internet
· At a time when money and sources of capital may be tight, there is no shortage of opportunities to network, nor knowledge to be gained.
So my fellow networkers of the world, I ask you this very important question:
If we have seemingly endless ways to network (both online and off), access to friends, family and colleagues like never before, superior technology and generations of collected knowledge and works plus the desire to change for the better…what still stands in our way?
If the answer is “nothing”, then that, unfortunately, is unrealistic. If it were true, our problems would be solved instantaneously and we would all have experienced the change already. The truth is that we have yet to experience such a change.
In my humble opinion, my fellow networkers, one of the biggest obstacles we face is that our current economic system is not supporting us. Financial Capital is meaningless as “experts” continue to develop increasingly-complex economic models designed to separate “fools from their money”. The truth is, it’s easy for most of us to look like fools with such complex systems. Compounding the issues, those in authority hold common citizens accountable for maintaining fiscal responsibility despite their own lack of it. Bailouts are not the answer as they only help those in authority – not the majority. It’s time to address the root cause of the problem.
What is the root cause?
A traditional economic system (such as the one we’re using) is based upon finite resources and “healthy competition”. Yet, as human beings, we have limitless desires, ambitions and goals and must work cooperatively to survive. Do you see the discrepancy?
Is it that our economic system is being crushed under its own overly-bloated weight or have we simply outgrown it?
If we have, then it’s time to look at the root cause of Financial Capital: Relationship and Intellectual Capital; who we know and what we know. Without these two truer forms of capital, we would not enjoy the by-product of Financial Capital. We have already begun to determine value based upon Intellectual Capital thanks to the Intellectual Property movement, but only recently have we begun to scratch the surface of determination of value based upon who we know – Relationship Capital. My writings on the Ten Laws of Relationship Capital and “Relationship Capital in the Workplace”, show that this is not mere idle speculation and naïve idealism but grounded in the hard science of Newtonian physics.
My fellow networkers of the world, I ask you to consider what life might be like with an economic system based upon a truer form of capital, more closely resembling the limitless imaginations and machinations of the human race, while also recognizing us as stewards and citizens of the Earth.
- In such an economic system, individual acts of kindness would pay the bills and put food on a family’s table. Wealth would be gained by developing and advancing the cause of the individual, society and the planet. Conversely, those who choose to defy the laws of nature and humankind through acts of trickery, theft and war would lose wealth, giving new meaning to the term “morally bankrupt”.
- In such an economic system, “I win, you lose” would be replaced by “I win if everyone wins”.
- In such an economic system, crimes and atrocities motivated by economic gain would be greatly curtailed.
- In such an economic system, people would have the basic rights of food, clean running water, food and shelter for their families.
- In such an economic system, individuals would be motivated and compensated to work towards projects that bring us closer to sustainability.
Do you see what I see, my fellow networkers of the world?
Does this have to continue to be a dream or can it be our reality?
Can this be the change we need to make or are we doomed to make the same mistakes over again?
Do we really have the luxury to sit back and write this off as idle, idealistic chatter?
How much longer can we afford to be slaves to a system that only benefits a select and slowly-diminishing minority?
So what can we do today?
It all starts with a favor.
A favor is the smallest, simplest interaction involving Relationship and/or Intellectual Capital. In terms of Financial Capital, a favor is absolutely free, yet it’s an exchange of RC and/or IC. When we do a favor for someone else, improve our standing (RC) with them.
This is the basis of a traditional barter system – an economic system that existed before our current one and still exists in parts of our world today.
The more favors we continue to do for others without exchange of Financial Capital, the more we grow an economy based upon the truer forms of Capital: The Relationship Economy.
My fellow networkers, I also urge you to look into online networks like FreeCycle to see how the technology of the internet might support such a system.
We do have the technology today to make it happen.
We do have the networking know how (or at least know where to find it).
We do have the people out there with the desire to make such a change.
My fellow networkers of the world I ask you this:
Are you one of those people?
If so, what do you plan to do to move us all towards the relationship economy?
What favors can you do for others to make a difference today?
My fellow networkers, you have these commitments from me:
- I will continue to explore the ways by which Relationship Capital can be used to spark a newer, brighter, day for us all.
- I will continue to post my findings and research in the pages of The National Networker.
- I will listen to any and all reasonable offers to move the Relationship Economy forward – our future, and the future of generations depends upon it.
My fellow networkers of the world, I thank you for reading this. May G-d bless you and all those you know and love.
The Emergence of the Relationship Economy
Relationship Capital is the cornerstone of the Relationship Economy, which RNIA defines as “a measurement assigned to individual and organizational entities based on the relationship interactions between them, and the interactions they have internally.” I am proud to have contributed discussion of the Ten Laws of Relationships Capital to the upcoming book The Emergence of the Relationship Economy, now out as an eBook and in hardcopy. With a forward written by Doc Searls (of Cluetrain Manifesto fame), it is being considered a “must read” for anyone responsible for the strategic direction of their business. If you would like to purchase your own copy of The Emergence of the Relationship Economy, please click here.
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1 comment:
Adam, I think one of the biggest favors that your readers and affiliated authors/speakers can do for TNNW is to thoughtfully read and respond to your blog posts. In turn, they will help themselves by linking back to their own sites. And this dialogue will benefit our industry.
The state our industry is in right now seems to be one of confusion over how to utilize the technology being developed...and how to balance our time and effort with our ability to monetize. Many of the hot technologies came from a personal need, and the creators are still figuring out where to take things. For all the twittering by the experts, there doesn't seem to be much for the average businessperson to hang their hat on yet.
In any industry, there are the few who think and question and plod along, pushing the agenda for growth and change. Who will join you? I challenge your affiliates to at least join the dialogue.
My interests are of a different scope than yours...but I'll pitch in. Whether you want it or not. :P)
Jay F. Rowland
CEO, Referral Marketing Association
www.Refma.org (www.ChapterTracker.com)
blog: http://refma.wordpress.com
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