1) One person must be a domain expert in your industry.
2) One person must be an expert on your market.
3) One person must be an important supplier to your industry.
What constitutes 'contact'?
Finally: Reflect.
Ben Lee
1) Who they are and what their background is.
Ben Lee. Elite Swim Coach, Assistant Coach with professional swimming, International Swim League, North Carolina Zones Coach, All Star Qualifying coach, a father to two young boys.
2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.
Ben will fulfill the Market Expert due to his knowledge of working with Olympians, working with elite age group members, and connections to professionals in the same field.
3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.
I first found Ben while coaching during Souther Zones Championships, which then later progressed into our friendship blooming over our passion of coaching and being servants for our sport. We exchanged numbers during this time.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
We trade ideas, and when needed reach out for advice on professional and personal decisions. Considering the age difference and experience we both have, we call each other whenever needed to find what we should do.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
We share the same passions. We’ve both explored this sport to the extreme with the same end goals. Going to him, with his guidance, could make or break this idea.
Eric Christensen
1) Who they are and what their background is.
Friend, previous co-coach, Current Master’s Swimming World Record holder in multiple swimming events, previous Florida Gator Athlete, Age Group National Ranked Head coach.
2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.
Domain Expert. His current perspective of the sport is more influential because he is still an active participating athlete whom is categorized as an elite swimmer due to his world records.
3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.
He’s my best friend. There’s a SOLID 17 year age gap, but he’s my best friend. We worked alongside each other every single day for 3 years. Even with my move, we talk just as much. I was first introduced to him when I started my first Florida club coaching job, and together we became nationally ranked coaches.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
As friends, just communication. We’ve exchanged respect. Granted, if ever the opportunity for a club to start in Florida, he would ask to be a lead in the staff, which I would give in a heart beat. His raw talent for this sport says one thing, but his raw talent and leadership skills is someone I would hire before I could blink.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
He challenges my ideas, theories, perspectives while also providing me an athlete’s perspective and reasoning. DRASTICALLY. His perspectives could alter the entire perspective of a club and programming.
Charlie Rose
1) Who they are and what their background is.
Florida Coach of the year, previous employer, Nationally ranked coach, Head Coach of Blue Dolfins in Oviedo, FL, which is top 10 nationally ranked club team, behind Bolles of Jacksonville, FL.
2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.
Supplier, but for things such as accounting guidance, USA swimming configuration guidance. The know-how when proposing to the Mayor of the city.
3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.
Previous Employer.
4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?
Close ties with the team and athletes in future endeavors, payment of services, etc.
5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?
Proper guidance from an already successful team would allow me to bypass beginner mistakes that could lead to the destruction of my original club idea.
My Reflection:
By using these people, and allowing their support and guidance to help during the creation of this club, I will be able to bypass beginner mistakes, while receiving more knowledge of clubs and how they are ran.
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