Networking Games - Making Profitable Connections

By Lucille Orr and John Rich

Lucille Orr has owned more than a dozen successful enterprises. She educates, inspires and assists others to open their own businesses through her business networks, motivational books, seminars and radio programs. John Rich has travelled extensively, owned businesses and teaches networking, sales and customer service techniques. Together they share their combined business expertise, knowledge and networking experiences in this valuable book.

'Networking Games' is written for those who appreciate the value of networking for the creation of long-term business relationships and the generation of wealth and opportunity. Lucille and John were fortunate to network with 17,000 global business visitors while attending events at 'Business Club Australia' - a world first, networking event, established by Austrade and held during the Sydney Olympic Games. If you are expanding a business globally or wanting to do business with Australians join 'Business Club Australia' as it continues to operate in the virtual world servicing its global members online.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9780987159816

Book preview

publisher.

Foreword

And the winner is……….Business Club Australia

In recognition of the tangible benefits of networking, the Australian Government, through Austrade, established Business Club Australia – a world first networking event for business people visiting Sydney during the Olympic Games.

During the Games Business Club Australia hosted 17,000 business visitors at its unique business centre at Sydney’s Darling Harbour and continues to operate in the virtual world, servicing some 15,000 global members on-line.

The benefits of networking were never more clearly demonstrated than at Business Club Australia. A key drawcard was the Club’s operation of an intensive events program devised to bring together Australian and international business people with similar interests. The events outlined Australian capability in a wide range of areas, including information and communication technology, agribusiness, biotechnology, infrastructure, building, engineering and education.

Business Club Australia was in the right place at the right time. This book, Networking Games, will also strike a chord with those who appreciate the value of networking.

I encourage you to take advantage of Business Club Australia and Networking Games for the creation of long-term business relationships and the generation of wealth and opportunity for Australia.

The Hon Mark Vaile MP

Minister for Trade

Deputy Leader of The National Party

Dedication

We dedicate this book to all the people who made Business Club Australia one of the key events of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Congratulations for creating history and helping Australia lead the business world into the 21st Century.

John Rich and Lucille Orr

Cover Story

Rod Mc Geoch led the Sydney Olympic bid and was the Patron of Business Club Australia. We have taken this information from his letter published in the Business Club Australia magazine (September 2000).

"Business Club Australia was established to facilitate connections with the tens of thousands of business people visiting Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games, and it’s a world-first from an Olympic host. Never before has there been such a program to embrace all business people with a common interest.

Business Club Australia was launched in 1998, and has been servicing members on-line through the Virtual Club and through events around the globe. By the end of the 2000 Games, the Club will have an expected 20,000 members – an impressive database of company decision-makers and business leaders across industries, across countries.

During the Olympic Games, Business Club Australia’s centre was located in the heart of Darling Harbour. It was a stunning harbourside venue featuring a showcase of Australian industry capability, a business lounge with business services, and a wharf-side café.

Over the Olympic period, Sydney's visitors were able to see one of Australia’s famous Incat fast ferries – a 98m catamaran berthed alongside the Club for private functions during the Sydney Olympics catered for private and Government functions. This magnificent vessel is an example of Australian marine ingenuity at its best – Incats are one of Australia’s greatest exports.

There was a Special Business Events program at the centre over the period of the Games. This was an excellent opportunity for Club members to meet people from their own industry or market of interest. Networking sessions were held each morning from 9.30 am to 11.30 am, and each afternoon from 2.30 pm to 4:30 pm. Alternatively, members could join in one of the Champions Happy Hours - every day from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

If you are interested in membership of Business Club Australia, you can easily join at www.businessclubaustralia.com.au.

For those who were not able to make it to the centre during the Sydney Olympics 2000, the Club provided a magazine with a wealth of information about Australian industry and its position in the global economy, plus useful contacts and sources for further information. For our international visitors, I'm sure you'll enjoy discovering more about this beautiful country. I hope you will consider the trade opportunities it offers.

Enjoy Australia!"

Rod McGeoch

Meet the Authors

John Rich

John Rich is a man who has demonstrated that with the right will and attitude, adversity can be turned to advantage.... he is living proof of the truth in the saying ‘losers let it happen ... winners make it happen! Malcolm Weatherup, Freelance Journalist.

I was educated in Poland and migrated to Australia some 20 years ago with Civil Engineering qualifications, but worked as a freelance Marketing Consultant. In 1987 I ventured into video and television production starting my own business called the Family Broadcasting Network. In 1992 Rich Challenge was born and my passion for sailing was rekindled.

I was an active, outgoing man, demonstrating ambition, vision and determination in the world of sailing when suddenly I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. A successful operation was followed by almost fatal complications, and it was in those grey times when facing death that I discovered new depths of determination and tactics to turn away from despair and seek new goals and challenges.

Finding the will to fight back against the physical blows I had been dealt, I eventually found myself as a senior crew member on the yacht Time & Tide; an entry in the BT Global Challenge 1996-97 crewed by people with disabilities. I helped this brave crew sail halfway around the world before another severe challenge to my physical health struck. Many others would have thrown in the towel under these circumstances, giving themselves up to despair and anger but I kept on fighting.

In the four years since then I have been extremely successful in business as a management consultant evaluating financial ratings, IT and marketing solutions.

I have spent the last two years as a crew member sailing a 40-foot racing catamaran. Last August I took part in the sea trials on board the newly restored sailing ship, barque James Craig.

My key project now is the Around Australia Yacht Race I’m currently organising as an adventure for ordinary people with extraordinary dreams. Amateur participants will race identical yachts through many different weather conditions experiencing the Great Barrier Reef and the tropics as well as the Southern Ocean weather conditions. The experience will be similar to that of sailing around the world, but in a much shorter time frame. It is going to be the world's longest coastal yacht race.

Because of my adventures I am in demand as a motivational speaker and am writing a book to help those who face adverse conditions and harbour personal goals. I see strong comparisons between sailing a difficult passage to get from one port to another, the same as facing challenges in business and life.

Early in August, I had to return a book to the National Maritime Museum’s library and found that Business Club Australia had taken residence for the Sydney Olympics in the same building. While there I to spoke to Julie Foster who was the Project Manager responsible for Member and Partner Services and she convinced me to join immediately.

On my way back to my office in North Sydney I started to question myself as