This is Cantenac-Brown a château in the Margaux area between Puillac and Bordeaux. It's a wine region that is crammed with Château and wine producers that are world renowned, and smooth roads, the smell of the grapes and great views.
I took this picture whilst out on a recent training ride, for a connection of mine Caroline Wynn (who I recently had as a guest on my NAAFI Break Podcast and as a guest post Sunday Brunch a few weeks back and since, have discussed and formed some great ideas about how we can create a mutually beneficial work.
Turns out she has visited the area 20 years ago as part of a work trip, tasted the wine(which I might add is reassuringly expensive!) and fondly remembered it.
What has this got to do with the move from the Military to second career? Actually, I believe it's an important lesson for Service Leavers.
The word 'Networking' is not a comfortable one for many Service Leavers, often conjures up an image of drinks parties with a room full of sales people and strangers with canapes and fizzy stuff,( when a pint and a crisp would be welcomed) making small talk before asking you to invest your savings in a timeshare! The thing is, you have been Networking since school! Finding who has the best lunchbox swops, who brought the latest comic to school, or discussing how to get the brother of the girl you like, to invite you round on the weekend to play as a ruse to get to speak to her.
Networking isn't just asking 'Gis a job'(credit Yosser Hughes Boys from the Black stuff circa 1980) it's about building trust, knowledge and mutual benefit. So what's your opening line when you meet a new 'contact'? What do you do for a living? yawn! Pre-programmed, boring, stock question often receives a similar response.
Personally, I want to know something that I will remember after the event, about them, not the job/product/company. They have a life, they may have a mutual interest, they will open up and relax when they talk about it to you. You get to 'Connect' not just make 'contact'.
So Caroline and I have had conversations, that uncover more than work stuff, but is intertwined with work, which is inevitable. It told me a lot about her purpose, drive and professionalism too!
Maybe you might think about working on Connecting not Contacting? If you are leaving the Military, your Network will be the key to your career path, develop it, engage with it and help others too.
PS. Cantenac Brown is £35 a bottle for the entry level stuff.
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