by Thomas E. Kenny
As we expand our professional network we are developing warm trusted relationships. Dare I say that we are actually creating friendships? After all in a true warm trusted relationship we are mutually present and available to help each other. Thus in our network there is no us vs. them. All that exist is us!
This weekend I'm participating in a time honored tradition of one of my avocations. Across the US and Canada amateur (ham) radio operators will be sending "CQ Field Day" via wireless communication modes of voice, keyboard and good old Morse code. Ham radio enthusiast have annually set up portable wireless shortwave radio stations "in the field" for 75 years.
The main purpose of field day is to make as many two-way radio contacts as your group can during a continual 24 hour (work through the night) emergency preparedness drill. Even in this day and age of internet and satellite communications, it takes at least a day or more for emergency organizations to mobilize. Essentially ham radio operators are embedded in every community and from all walks of life, ready to provide emergency communications as a service to the community stricken by a disaster. We've helped for months after 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina as well as thousands of other hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and ice storms.
However there is also a softer social side to field day as well. Many clubs around the country will host a BBQ. They may also host a local publicity table which is open to the public to learn more about the vast hobby. If you'd like to know more about ham radio (Morse code is no longer required) please feel free to send me an E-mail.
So what does this have to do with networking? Well I have procured many of my past and I'm sure future employment opportunities thanks to my ham radio friends. Demonstrating that a hobby, charity or community service work is not an isolated network! Since we are all connected via various common interests, never think of your life as being segmented into categories. We don't have a separate work life, home life, and hobby life. We have one life which consists of family, friends, colleagues, network, clients, suppliers, et cetra and they are all connected.
That mindset is how I define “Holistic Networking”.
Live it, share it and keep networking alive!
Excellent article Tom. I've always been interested in ham radio operations. I know ham radio operators have been the backbone for emergency preparedness to get the word out when modern technology fails. Back in the 80's I was into CB radio usage, as I drove for Hertz in picking up rental cars from east coast airports and bringing them back to Dulles airport in D.C
Essentially ham radio operators are embedded in every community and from all walks of life, ready to provide emergency communications as a service to the community stricken by a disaster.
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james
Holistic Rehab