First Follower Journal: Adding Value to ECO

I write this as I sit in on one of the ECO Networking Meetups being run by Linda Hughes. It’s wonderful to see ECO members joining the conversation to help each other with connections and advice. That’s core to what ECO is all about.  In the past 90 minutes, the group helped one member come up with the right wording around his business idea, help him figure out the right business structure, register the company online at the state level, register a domain name, and register a twitter handle. Linda also gave great advice on how to write more meaningful tweets. The atmosphere is buzzing with the electricity of ideas and motivation.

I reflect on my own role in ECO. Linda Hughes and I have very compatible skills sets. You might say that I’m the Yin to Linda’s Yang. There’s value in bringing diverse skills to the relationship. Like Linda, I’m also a life-long connector, always recommending resources that fill someone’s need. I see that as an important function I need to be performing in ECO. Yesterday I was also able to flex my marketing muscles in helping one of our members with some fresh marketing perspective on a day when she was feeling frustrated with her company's progress. Today I'll call in a favor to make new connections for our African ECO members. It's one of my favorite parts of the job.

I’ve heard ECO members talk about finding the right new members to bring into ECO. We want people in our network to have our shared values of honesty, some humility, willingness to learn and grow, and maybe a little sense of humor too. We want our members to be interested in helping each other. Sometimes this help is paid and sometimes it might be bartered. And sometimes a help may be offered because certain situations it’s the right thing to do.

ECO Members and Future ECO Members, I’ll be interested in your perspectives!