Blog: Making connections

You’ve heard the saying, it’s not what you know, but who you know. It’s true. If you know who to ask, you can find out anything you want to know.

In business, it’s helpful to have others who can serve as resources. Maybe these people are in your organization, but often, it’s helpful to have people outside your organization, who can give a different perspective.

I made some new connections recently and relied on some older ones. I’ve known Angie Loucks for years. We met when we both worked at the Daily Tribune ages ago. She’s been with the United Way of Inner Wisconsin for a number of years now and is great resource to many people. Just this week, she shared a connection from her work. The Girl Scouts are interested in partnering with long-term care facilities, to have the Scouts come in and do an activity or have an ice cream social. I shared this information with our activities coordinator, who loves the idea.

A new connection came through an advertising contact. I met Ryan Bair from 88.5 The Family radio station a couple of months ago. He shared information about how we could be a sponsor on the Christian radio station. At the time, he had found us through our website, when one of his contacts asked him if he had personal connections with any communities in Wisconsin Rapids. (A community is another name for an assisted living facility.) It was nice to get to know him. He put me in touch with his contact, Annette Krautkramer of Caring Transitions, a business that provides senior moving, downsizing and estate sale services.

I met Annette for coffee, so we could get to know more about each other’s businesses. During the conversation, we talked a lot about older people, how everyone is unique, how we can help support people, the importance of the Alzheimer’s Association and how it has touched our lives.

Annette told me about a group that reaches out to the community to provide information about services available. I wasn’t familiar with it. I told her about the Help and Hope for Aging Planning Committee I was invited to join, which is planning a community seminar in September for individuals, family members and caregivers. I was able to use my connections to help the planning committee with an idea for speakers at the Help and Hope for Aging event.

Then, during a Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce event, I met a woman who asked about providing pet therapy at our Hilltop communities. I gave her my card so she can get in touch when her therapy dog is ready to visit. At the same event, I ran into Ryan from The Family.

It’s good to continue to meet people and make connections. Sometimes, it’s obvious from the start how you can use a connection. Sometimes, it reveals itself later. Either way, those connections can be a valuable resource.