ASIA PACIFIC: A Lesson in Networking: Sunday School

by Victor Cattermole

Asia Pacific Bureau Chief

I recently gained a new staff member, student and protégé with my son moving up to join me from New Zealand a few weeks ago. While well educated by his university like so many students he lacks the knowledge that only experience can bring. As such I have been doing my best to educate him and provide him with experiences to help develop his business knowledge.

Recently we moved on to the importance of the business network. Aside from referring him to a certain website I wanted to find a working and real example of a good network so he could experience it first hand. Fortunately being in Hong Kong there are many varied and interesting examples of networking in action, from the high rise office towers to the city markets and streets.

My chosen example came from a walk through central with my son last Sunday. It was somewhat unexpected but I think shows what good network connections can provide for any person.

Like many Asian cities Hong Kong works 6 days a week, with most companies closing Sunday. Sunday therefore becomes a day of relaxation and family. Another key thing happens on a Sunday, the service staffs of the households, around 300,000 people, have their day off. As such areas in Hong Kong become inundated with hundreds of thousands of people, chatting, playing cards, catching up and generally enjoying their day off.

This gathering encompasses so much more then just a catch up, it is a true network in action. Wandering along beside these groups of women and watching them interact my son was able to see what this relatively poor, but very large, network can provide. Almost anything a relaxing worker could want is catered for from within the group. It is not uncommon to see groupings of women cooking for those around them, a haircut being given while others wait their turn, clothes and jewelry being sold and exchanged and even a small bar of sorts, with wine being drunk and cards being played.

And through all this the network takes place with no major vehicle, no website or union, just friends meeting, relaxing and providing for each other. It is a bare and simple network yet it is effective in that it provides for the needs of its members. As a networker we can sometimes lose sight of how effective a simple network can be, even if it is just a bare verbal connection. In the age of global communication technology it can be beneficial to look at our simpler connections and the great benefits they can provide.

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ASIA PACIFIC: A Lesson in Networking: Sunday School