Relationships: Transformational or transactional ?

I believe that opportunities come from unexpected places and it can take time before these opportunities may even raise their heads.  We need to be positive, patient and persistent.

I met Janine Garner,  some years ago when she was running the LBD (Little Black Dress)  networking group, when I was invited to attend through a connection. As soon as I heard her speak, I knew our values aligned, even though we worked in different arenas.   

Janine is a keynote speaker, educator and author and leads by example, inspiring others to create, influence and lead a fulfilled life.

Since I attended that event, I have been following Janine  and  enjoyed reading her book “It’s The People Your now”  and I am now pleased to be part of her cheer squad to help her launch her new book “Be Brilliant- How To Lead A Life of Influence”.

At the beginning of COVID-19 Janine, questioned  launching a book about being brilliant, recognising we were facing  a period of time where there is so much uncertainty and anxiety happening economically, globally, health with a pandemic.

She had spent  literally 18 months of research and hard work and blood, sweat and tears as there's a lot of vulnerability in her new  book and a lot of personal story. So it was quite a feat to get it published and then suddenly for the world around her to change. She couldn’t rely on store shopping, distribution, airport stores, displays and book launches now.

Being an expert in networking , a friend of Janine’s ,Shane Hutton, called her out on her doubts and suggested she use her own IP.  He said,  “You've got so many people that love your work that you have had face to face contact within training rooms, or you've spoken at events for them, all the people that just fully online, there's thousands. If you add them up, ask them for help.”

This is exactly what Janine has done.  She  recorded a video, asked  for help. She was inundated with emails, and  decided to do a zoom call for her followers. In terms of marketing the book now, it literally is a living and breathing experiment into the magic that she  totally believes happens when we connect deeply.  Janine says “When we give people the space to use their skills, to have ideas and the freedom to do whatever they want, knowing that at its heart is the same objective and vision and so, yeah, it's just phenomenal”.

As a cheerleader, it's really lovely to be involved helping support another person as they share their thoughts (which align with your own)  out to the world.

I have shared often, I believe anything is possible with a supportive network and that taking up an unexpected opportunity can result in unexpected  “magic” and connection.

Passionate about the power of connection she and I both agree that there is so much opportunity when people build incredible, amazing relationships, which as  Janine says  “are more transformational than transactional, and how those relationships have the power to unlock innovative collaborations and ultimately, how can we work together”.

There's a lot of similarities in the way Janine and I  think,  and the way that we talk about building relationships and transforming lives. In  my book,  Two Ears, One Mouth and a Big Heart the subtitle is conversations to amplify and inspire.  

I invited Janine to play a game with me- using the  YTM cards- and respond to the questions –

“If you were to start your career Again, what would you do differently?”

Her response “  I think I think this is where you and I are so connected because part of our work is getting back to others what we've learned through our lives. And so I have had a lot of time to reflect on this. And there's two things I would do. First of all, I would say to myself, believe in myself more, stop doubting,really stop doubting your capability, step up, speak up, stop hiding.

You know, you're here to do something, and you can do it. And so I believe in myself more in terms of I could go back to the start of my career. And the other critical thing I wish someone had told me is surround yourself with a network. To get  the right people in your world. Find a mentor find, even if it's just one person that you can share your goals and your dreams with and what the big ambition is, and that person that can take you under their wing, and guide you and support you, and help you get there.”

“What does success look like to you?”

 I was not surprised by Janie’s response, as I agree our priorities and goals change over time…Janine told me

“…  if I'm honest, I think at different stages in your life success is different things. And, and obviously, you know, as a mother of three, a small humans, adults, although they're not small, they're small animals. They're like, 11, no, sorry, 1214 and 16. You know, success ultimately, as a mother is them to grow up into the adults that they want to become, and to grow up as beautiful human beings who understand that they have a role to play in society, and that they're safe, and they actually grow up to live those dreams. … from a professional perspective, it is about being able to help other people, as many people be who they want to be professionally and fulfill their dreams.

I am so sad at the amount of people they're almost becoming the robots of life. going through the motions, exhausted, stressed, unhappy, feeling like they could have been “something”.   

My wish, is to unlock the understanding that we are humans of extraordinary potential, who have the chance to become who they want to be and To change whatever they want to change, and that that really guides my work. It's literally why I say yes. And I do as much as I can, because ultimately, it's about other people's success. It's all about other people”.

My beliefs  align with Janine, in so many ways .  My  business is called Your Time Matters because we have one life to live and one opportunity. And the tagline is learn, grow, achieve because you learn about yourself and others. You grow your knowledge, your connection and you network and you achieve whatever it is that matters to you.

Janine finished off our conversation saying “  It really is togetherness that will drive change and I love the fact that we are now part of each other's worlds because  that's two people trying to do the same thing, which will have even more impact.

 I am sure you will enjoy reading Janine’s book- Be Brilliant- How to Lead A Life of Influence…. And you can see and hear  the complete conversations  HERE.