Networking in Pakistan

In May 2011, I had the immense honor of meeting nine incredible Pakistani female entrepreneurs. They traveled to Thunderbird for two weeks of business training. One could say that May 2011 certainly was a historic month, as Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed... in Pakistan. 

It was traumatic for them, even though they didn't even flinch. We had to speak about the proverbial elephant in the room. 

We voiced our support and love for these incredible women who had already overcome so much in their fight for success and equality in the business world. Their hard shell never cracked until we approached the subject. A sigh of relief overtook the room. 

We reiterated that the collective American "we" knew the difference between corrupt officials/governments/people, and these hard working women and their families. They were relieved, and told us so afterwards.

I have kept in close contact with one in particular. Her journey is so incredible, and not free of self doubts, desires to choose an easier path. Something all entrepreneurs can relate to. But, her path is mostly full of self-won successes and international recognition. 

She didn't forget the call to share the information with others either... She wrote a piece on the scary, unknown concept of NETWORKING. 

Before her time at Thunderbird, networking meant meeting others on the street through family and friends, through past clients. Never the high profile events she ever imagined being invited to, and eventually, the ones which would celebrate her! Read and enjoy.

By Mrs. U.

Until last May I never went to a "Networking Event". Meeting strangers and walking up saying hello wasn't what I did very well. Talking sense in dollars ... business for bucks ... 

Not so much naive... but yes, I am human. The bottom line of every business is profit ... never thought I would say that ever. For me it was giving back. Now they tell me: "don't even talk about that! Your client and investor don't care. You have 2 minutes for the "hook" ... tell them about the money." -- Apparently helping the disadvantaged isn't a good enough value proposition. 

Someone who knows me too well asked, "How do you stop yourself from screaming out loud?" Those room ... conference halls ... are suffocating. But I have found out if I listen carefully enough I can hear the heartbeats through the suits. It's faint but its there. Every few hours I need to leave and hide somewhere away from everyone but then I always go back. Looking around at physical things helps me. The wood ... carved, chiseled and polished to perfection into fancy furniture still has itself somewhere. It reached out to the sun ... once. It felt the wind across its face ... once. Was nourished by the rain. Focus on it! 

Gleaming glass made into expensive chandeliers ... Fancy mirrors that decorate the ceiling ...  Constant reminders to myself ... "hang in there, remember why you are here, remember who you are, don't let anyone turn you into a cold, calculating, pessimistic, negative zombie. If you let them change you, that's when you lose. Give everyone a chance."

Everyone is good unless they prove themselves otherwise. It's sand ... don't hold onto it so tight ... it will run out faster than you can imagine. Open up your palms and be gentle and caring and it will stay there ... 

Don't forget who you are and what you gotta do. 

Let others decide who they want to be and what they want to do. Harmony!