Network, network, network...

A good network proves its worth when you have a problem you cannot solve alone. A few days ago, we were short of speakers for Aminotastic, and my team in Denmark was starting to panic. I sent three emails. Shortly afterwards, we had three fantastically talented people on the programme without paying them to speak.

This is the story behind Aminotastic in March 2010. In my previous video, it may have sounded as though we had everything under control. We did when I talked about the programme. But three or four days earlier, things looked very different.

My network saved the Aminotastic programme

This time, Aminotastic is being held in Køge because Amino is taking part in a free entrepreneurs’ fair there. We have arranged a local collaboration on the fair and are holding our own event afterwards. Køge is not hard to get to, but the name does not sound like Copenhagen or Aarhus. So getting people to go there can be a little harder.

We have held Aminotastic year after year. People speak for free, and users get the event at cost price. When I mention a ticket price of 175 kroner, part of the reason is that more than 100 kroner goes on food. On top of that, there is the venue, projector and all sorts of other costs. Those are the prices and circumstances of the event back then.

My team had spent months trying to find speakers without getting it sorted. Now there were about three weeks until the event. The message was essentially: "Martin, we’re screwed. What the hell do we do?" I had hoped I would not have to sit and sort out the programme, but now I had to help.

Stig said yes because we had already helped each other

I sent the first email to Stig Severinsen, whom I talked about yesterday. He is a four-time world freediving champion and has taught me to hold my breath for over four minutes. I have mentioned that before, but I am still a little proud of it.

Stig said yes straight away. He already had a seminar in Aarhus that day, but he would come over in the evening if I needed him. Why would he do that? Among other things, I had helped him promote his book and think about his website.

I had not done that to secure a free talk later. I help a hell of a lot of people because I like helping. My own estimate is that it can be 20–30 people a day asking me about various things. So when I needed Stig, he was ready.

Mikkel and Henriette were ready straight away too

The next email went to Mikkel deMib. He is a bloody good speaker and an internationally recognised expert. Normally, booking him costs a lot of money. I asked whether he would come and entertain the entrepreneurs on Amino for free on a Saturday evening in Køge. The answer came straight back: Yes, he would love to.

I have helped Mikkel sell his book and given him feedback. When he asks what a new book should be called or wants to discuss another idea, we brainstorm back and forth. He helps me too. We already had that relationship in place when I asked for help.

I sent the third email to Henriette from Toothless Tiger. I said we were short of some great speakers and that there was no fee. In return, I could help draw attention to her in my newsletter and elsewhere if that would be useful.

She wrote back immediately that she was ready to help me. Henriette is a talented Facebook expert who also normally charges for her talks. She could have spent the evening doing all sorts of other things. But I had promised to help her promote her book, and she wanted to contribute.

It is funny that all three stories are about books. It was not a planned system. But it shows how something you have done for others can turn into a relationship that helps you one day too.

Think about what you can do for others

I still need a few more speakers, but I will find them. I know my network is strong and that I can ask talented people whether they will come and give a 20–30-minute talk.

The point is how that network is built. When I am with other people, I try to think about what I can do for them. What matters in that situation is not what I can get out of it myself. It is helping and feeling the pleasure of doing something for another person.

And then a day comes when I am the one who is screwed. Here, three emails found three world-class speakers who did not ask for payment. That is my concrete explanation of what you can use a network for. Network, network, network. Think about what you can do for your network, and build the relationships before you need help yourself. You can find my own experiences as an entrepreneur in Iværksætter til jeg dør.

Best wishes, Martin

Location:Yamato Rd,Boca Raton,USA