Jonathan Markwell

We can’t do great things alone. The people that really make a difference to the world only manage do so with the help and support of others. The easiest way to get help and support from people is to connect with them by helping and supporting them in their ventures.

The best connections I’ve made have been those that have resulted in ideas being turned into reality. I met two art lovers that have turned their ideas into a tool that enhances people’s experience of exhibitions. I’ve met a doctor that’s now building a system to improve collaboration between medical professionals around the world.

Don’t limit yourself by only trying to connect with the people that you want to connect with. Some of my best connections have been the random ones that only came about because I happened to be in a particular place at a particular time. The way to make good quality connections is to make use of every opportunity and genuinely listen to everyone that has something to say.

I stay connected with most of my professional network on LinkedIn, it’s particularly popular in the technology sector. A newer tool that I’m finding really useful is Highrise, its a simplified approach to Customer Relationship Systems and enables me to keep personal records of all the connections I make. Recently I’ve found that Facebook is fast becoming the single place where almost everyone I know is staying connected - not just people I know from University.

Obviously none of these things are any substitute for a face to face meeting or phone call.