“Reprinted with permission from The National NetWorker“
Published September 2007
John Stanton is an amazing guy. He is responsible for creating over 900 networking events every week. People at his networking events create friendships, meet and fall in love, do business, and are healthier because of him.
Needless to say, John’s networking trumps meeting at a bar and eating greasy finger food! Previously I explained why networking at a Marathon is great way to network (National Networker August 2007). In the article, I didn’t say anything about networking for actual runners simply because the reality is that runners are too busy running to network.
So when do the runners get to network? The best time is during the hours preparing to run or walk the marathon, the ½ Marathon, 10K, 5K or even a 2K, network. And John has created the opportunity.
John is the President and Founder of The Running Room which has over 90 stores in Canada and a growing presence in the United States. Each store is dedicated to running and walking success by providing the very best in books, clothing, shoes, and anything else a runner or a walker needs. The Running Room is a sponsor for most of the major running events in Canada.
John’s innovation is the 15 different running and walking clinics that happen in each store. The clinics are between 10 and 16 weeks in length and they are designed to so that each member reaches a specific distance target 2K, 5K, ½ Marathon, etc. The underlying beauty and strength of The Running Room Clinic’s is the networking aspect of it.
There are several ways to network within the clinic structure. The best is dependent on what you offer and where your interests lay.
Each clinic is led by an instructor whose role is to a) encourage each clinic member, b) organize the weekly speakers, c) to select and manage the two or three runs during the week. Managing is primarily selecting the routes and setting the pace. The instructor role is high profile and you have the opportunity to meet many people, including store staff, other instructors, clinic members, and suppliers to the store. The instructor role is volunteer and most do it for the fun (Confession time – I currently instruct a Full Marathon Clinic and, in the fall, will be instructing the Learn To Run Clinic)
The weekly speaking engagements are another networking opportunity. Each week a different speaker gives a short talk on something relevant to the clinic. The speakers are local to the store and include doctors, chiropractors, chiropodists, massage therapists, coaches, or anybody who can help the clinic members meet their goal. If you can provide some help to the runners or walkers, this is a great way to expand generate some referral business.
During the run or walks is when the interaction between clinic members happens. In a two hour run, a lot of interesting and exciting conversation happens.
The people who join clinics are movers and shakers. These are all people who commit to a goal, commit to improving themselves, commit to a plan, commit to doing it with people, and commit the time required to meet a goal. This is what it takes to be a successful person. (See my article on why Marathon Running is Metaphor for Success) And since they joined the same clinic as you have, you already have a common bond.
Primarily clinic members work in offices and come right from work. The vast majority seem to be professionals who work for companies. My clinic includes a few sales and marketing executives, an in-house council, a company controller, an architect, a post secondary teaching professional, and several pharmacists.
When you meet with the same group of people every week for a common goal, its easy for even the shyest person to create relationships. These relationships create friendships, love; and frequently new business.
This all happens while improving your health.
Till Next Month!
–Zale
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I will be teaching the Learn To Run Clinic at the York Mills Location in Toronto.
I expect to learn lots from people who are just starting out. not about running – but about learning about what motivates people to take on and overcome new challenges.
The drop out rate is high for these kinds of courses – so my goal is to beat the typical drop out rate.
(Meaning that I have less people dropping out than normal)
Zale, I like the drip drip analogy. It also works for negative, worrisome issues, and reminds us to turn the tap off on the negative thinking before it wears us out. Thanks for this.