The Genius of Networking- Articles- BlackandChristian.com

So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
(Genesis 1: 27-28)

RELATIONSHIP
We know that the first relationship was God and man and wo(man) because Eve was in Adam before she was brought out from Adam to beside Adam.

COLLABORATION
As a couple, husband and wife, Adam and Eve were told by God to be fruitful and multiply, replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over every living thing that moves on the earth.

DOMINIONSHIP
To be fruitful and multiply, replenish and subdue and have dominion there must be a plan, a process, and order. Everything must be done decently and in order. We serve a God of order. We see the plan of God and His order in Genesis during the creation process as well as throughout the Holy Bible.

Applying these biblical principles to demonstrate the genius of networking, we see that networking is clearly based upon relationship, collaboration and ultimately for dominionship. Networking is a people leveraging mechanism drawing on the strengths of individuals creating massive groups or organizations where all within the network groups or organizations are benefiting from the actions of each individual, forever growing and improving, individually and collectively.

It is the ultimate family, the human family where we are our brothers’ keeper and one is for all and all is for one, demonstrating strength in numbers. It is powerful and I believe the model is of God (because there is only one genius and we know it is God— A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps – Proverbs 16:9).

I don’t know if you ever had or even now have a negative view of network marketing, however, I have had an awakening to its true value. If you can envision a graph of people holding hands all at different levels, the number of people and levels becoming wider and deeper on a daily basis, you see relationship, collaboration and dominionship. When one prospers, all prospers. Everyone within the network is being held up, supported and enriched from relationship, collaboration and dominionship.

There is a plan, a process and there is order! The plan is to develop a strong network of people who have dominionship over their time, place and finances. This dominionship gives the networkers choices on how to spend their money, where they can go, when they can go, choice of the quality and quantity of products and services available--true economic freedom which is based upon time, place and finances.

A good reference book for networking in general is, Success Runs in our Race, by George Fraser. I have read portions of the 1994 edition and there is a 2004 version as well. In the 1994 edition, Mr. Fraser expresses his sincere belief that networking is the key to success. He says that African Americans have a rich heritage of networking over many generations whether we have recognized it as networking or not and that we should recognize its benefits and strategically employ networking in every area of our lives for our advancement.

I attended a short seminar that Mr. Fraser presented this past summer in Washington, D.C. One thing that Mr. Fraser said that convicted me is that he believes very strongly that those of us that are alive now have been charged to move our people to economic freedom. He believes that we have been freed from slavery and civil rights inequities; however, we now have to be freed economically. He believes that we can go any place now because of freedoms gained in the past, however, now we need the finances and time freedom to be able to go to these places.

I am in agreement with his observation and I am on a personal mission to reach economic freedom and entreat others who also agree and are ready to do something about it to join me.

To do this, first, we have to change our thinking. If what we have been doing in the past has not allowed us to reach economic freedom, then we must do some things differently. Our minds must be renewed, cleansed of the traditions and limitations of the past. We must realize that true economic freedom involves time, place and finances. We must be clear that having the money and not being able to distribute it or bless others with it because we have a poverty consciousness or because we are bound up in a job that takes all of our time is not true economic freedom.

I hope you don’t want a counterfeit economic freedom; you want the original. The model is in our manual for living, the Holy Bible -- If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed - John 8:36; The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it - Proverbs 10:22; As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another - Proverbs 27:17.

Now, you must have a discerning spirit when choosing a networking marketing company to represent. However, I believe that if you can connect with the company and the product or service then you can ethically represent, multiply and have dominionship. It won’t be about accumulating money but about sharing quality, beneficial products or services thereby helping the consumer, our selves and others in our groups or organizations. The accumulation/multiplication of finances will be the byproduct of relationship, collaboration and dominionship. It’s just that simple. No more and no less. That’s the genius of networking.

It’s up to us to clear our minds from the negatives, find a reputable company with products or services that we can connect with and then build our organizations through relationship, collaboration and dominionship. Consider it.

Glory Be to God. What a mandate, what a mantle. We can do this!

The next topic will be Where Do You Go From Here?

Bonita M.W. Shelby is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Business Manager. A graduate of Howard University, Ms. Shelby is a member of Jericho City of Praise and a Breast Cancer survivor. She helped establish the Howard University Hospital Breast Cancer Support Group. Ms. Shelby is the principal and business life coach of Kingdom Business, Inc. Responses are encouraged and for more information, I invite you to visit our website for a FREE Business Vision assessment at: www.kingdombusiness.biz/ or email us at help@kingdombusiness.biz or call 301-445-0398.