A Day To Remember. Royal Yacht.
Wow! it's 31 years ago this happened, but a nice little story. The reason I bring it today is because it has relevance to what we are all doing here in a way. Networking.
The old ways were not easy to make good connections, you had to be creative and work at it very hard to gain traction. I have always been good at interactions with people and listen well and used to store in my mind facts about all sorts of things, computers were just breaking ground for everyday use and applications were costly and not much to choose from.
I was attending Miami and Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce meetings, the late 80's early 90's, and the once-a-month Card exchanges. It became well-known amongst attendees that I was good at playing "Snap" with people pairing them up for successful dealings in the future. I was a bit rough and ready with my construction background and only fond of polo shirts, and no tie or jacket.
But my style worked, evidently! Next thing I knew I was voted into the position of President. Many amazing things emulated from this, Whenever a Royal Navy vessel visited, I would receive an invite to attend welcoming ceremonies, and business parties at the Consulate home, where I drank and networked with many well-known people in business and entertainment. I could probably write another chapter on that.
I established many great connections and made some great friends, some still stay in contact.
Me a builder, mixing and drinking with names of people I would never have thought possible, and I certainly would not have got the chance for that sort of thing in the UK. I had contracts for car hire, airline tickets and many other products. Networking paid me handsomely, it was at one of these many such social events that I met this very posh-speaking engineer. We were chalk and cheese in so many ways but we became great friends, and it was him that led me to my precast world a few years later, and a few years after that I led him. He is now close to 90, and not doing so good, but we stay in touch.
It was from all this that somehow I got roped in (in a very nice way) to help with the Royal visit. I had to meet with Scotland Yard, Naval Attachés, an Admiral, and others whose titles I think started with an ‘M’. This culminated in an invitation to the Royal Yacht.
What A great day that was, I had to wear a suit and tie, which killed me!
Author Rob
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That is cool. I used to serve as the Director of our local Area Chamber of Commerce. It was fun. I got to do a lot of things that I wouldn't normally get to do and meet people I never would have otherwise met. Nothing like this, but still a great way to network and connect.
Glad to see you survived the suit and tie!
Karin
Hi Frank, I have a special one for you if I can find it, I have a guitar in a display case signed by Bruce Springstien and the East street boys
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Certainly sounds like an excellent day Rob... one can't put a price on proper networking!
It's not what we know but who we know my friend!! :-)