Morgan PR enjoys warm welcome at 4Networking Cirencester
We went 4Networking in Cirencester this morning – what a terrifically friendly group of business networking people were there and in such a stunning location at Coots Cafe on the Cotswold Water Park.
Surprisingly close to where we offer public relations services in West Berkshire, it was one of the first groups I planned on visiting and I had been delighted to receive an early welcome the day I joined 4Networking from group leader Amanda Barnett, from independent financial advisors Grosvenor Consultancy – and she was just as welcoming in person!
Initial networking was followed by a hearty breakfast and then we heard from Amy Stone from Meta-Cat, who offered some insight with her 4Sight slot on time management, which she likened to a jigsaw, a useful metaphor that only saw us mastering our time when all the pieces were in the right place.
She also emphasised how much our mindset, our perspective, would impact on our time management with tasks readily expanding to fill the time allotted, rather than taking the time they should.
The event was captured comprehensively on camera by 4Networking’s only Timelord (a tag generously gifted by voiceover artist and podcast guru Richard Heathcote) Dorrian Carrington of D&D Carrington Photographers, who explained how she freezes time and she has generously allowed us to use the photos on this post, not least this one (left) of Duncan Michael-MacGregor from Duck on Water and B-yond Belief's Lisa Rowles.
She also explained how she would be taking part in the forthcoming Race for Life event in Swindon and for a donation of a mere £5 she was taking photographs for people to use on their 4Networking profiles and other social networking websites.
It was great fun to meet Richard in person after following him on Twitter and I have also chatted to him on the 4Networking forum. He was visiting from Birmingham and has invited Morgan PR to deliver a 4Sight slot and as his busy Twitter account suggests, the Midlands are embracing social media, not least amongst 4N, so are ready or hear our message about organic public relations!
It seemed fitting to have one of my three one to one sessions with Richard too and it was fascinating to hear that he had stopped using videos and focused on audio instead. Naturally his talented voice is perfect for a host of different styles of podcast and a growing number of people are recognising that with plenty of people preferring to hear about a product or service, this is a valuable approach.
Richard has also recorded a fabulous podcast about this morning’s 4Networking meeting in Cirencester, in which he generously mentions Morgan PR and it is also powerful example of the service he offers.
My second meeting of minds was just that with Howard Moorey of the Hojomo Group and it was refreshing to discover someone else helping businesses get the most from social media and he explained how he gets people and business set up on the likes of Twitter and Facebook. He was pleased to hear how our writing could help take those fledgling social media marketeers to the next level with some dazzling copywriting.
My last and by no means least fun one-to-one was with Lisa Rowles from B-yond Belief, whose insightful approach to business coaching and consultancy has helped countless individuals flourish and achieve their goals. Helping others has also helped Lisa achieve balance in her own life and how inspiring was it to hear she has only just returned from two months in Africa. As she had so succinctly put it during her 40 second presentation earlier, ‘if you want a business that lets you spend two months a year in Africa...’ She is the one to talk to!
There was also news of a major networking event due to be held at the Royal Agricultural College on Tuesday 23rd June from 6-9pm, which is being organised by Business Scene. Over 200 businesses are expected to attend the event, which will also showcase the rather splendid conference facilities.
There are many 4Networking events to visit and only so many days, but without doubt 4Networking in Cirencester will be one I return to very soon.