How to make new friends

24 Apr

THREE NEAT THINGS

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ISSUE 060 | 23 April 2024

Hi friends!

Making new mates as an adult, especially when you’re knee-deep in the business world, can feel a bit like starting a puzzle without the corner pieces - it’s tricky figuring out where to begin! Back in school, friendships just seemed to happen, but as a grown-up, it's all a bit more complicated with work schedules, family commitments and professional boundaries.

But here’s a little tip from my recent foray into taking on a Melbourne B Local Leader role: diving into community activities and local groups is like finding those missing corner pieces - it makes everything else fall into place. It's all about pulling together folks who are keen to do business that’s good for the world. We’re not just swapping business cards - we’re building a community where everyone wants to chip in and help out.

Alongside my buddy, Sarah O'Terra, we’re tossing the awkward networking mixers for something a bit more hands-on. We think the best way to hit it off with someone is by doing something worthwhile together. Take our upcoming 'Nature + Network' event - we’re inviting anyone who’s part of a B Corp or just interested in sustainable business to spend an afternoon volunteering at a threatened species sanctuary. It’s the perfect backdrop to shed the stiff formalities and have a real chinwag with someone new.

If you’re looking to grow your circle and make new friends - throw yourself into events that fire you up or align with your values. Whether it’s through volunteering, attending workshops, or just joining a local cause, doing stuff that matters alongside others that care about the same things is a great way to forge lasting connections.

So, why not pop down to Mt Rothwell on Thursday 2nd May, and join us in the great outdoors? It’s an excellent way to meet new people and make genuine friends in the business world. Hope to see you there!

Marnie x

We’d love for you to join us on Thursday 2nd May for a relaxing afternoon in nature, where you can network with people interested in sustainable business. We'll do a few hours of work getting our hands dirty, share dinner and drinks, and then finish with a special nocturnal tour of the sanctuary. It’s a great way to meet new friends and feel connected to a like-minded community.

Click here for the agenda, location (an hour south west of Melbourne CBD), and FAQs.

BOOK HERE

I'm only 9 months behind schedule, but I've finally published my impact report for FY22-23.

My excuse for my tardiness is that I wanted to re-assess what I measure my impact against (a task of much procrastination). Previously it’s been business, clients, community and environment - loosely based on the B Corp certification categories. But with the tweak to my 'why' last year ("I'm in business to bring back nature"), I wanted to make it more relevant to what’s meaningful to me. So I did some brainstorming, and was inspired by Odonata’s 7C’s. And this is what I came up with.

All the impact areas are intertwined and overlapping, but they all resonate with me. So, that’s what I’m going to focus on from now on. It feels great to clarify what's important in my life. As long as I'm focused on at least one of these areas every day, I feel productive and like I'm working towards something I believe in.

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