networking

I have created a LinkedIn group called NorSec. The group targets security professionals in the Nordic, with particular focus on Norway.

The group is not publicly available. To be accepted you will comply with the following:

• Located in Norway (or the Nordics)
• Currently working within the security industry

The benefits of joining the group are:

• Join and meet other security professionals
• Develop a forum for discussions
• Find job opportunities
• Find candidates
• Get answers

Please note - if you are not located in the area, or not in the security industry, you will not be accepted as a member of this group. There are other groups available for you!

To apply: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/111057/40E1791B6B9D

You may consider letting me know about your request using the contact form or my e-mail.

The observant reader of my blog have noticed that I am a member of the Worldwide organization for young leaders and entrepreneurs - JCI.

This weekend, JCI Norway had its National Congress, an event my local chapter JCI Innovation hosted this year. My hats included getting sponsors and marketing, as well as making sure everything went smoothly during the actual event - I was the slave master!

The reason I post this on my security blog is to pinpoint that things do go wrong - and when that happens, you find solutions.

Saturday morning, our program said that Harald Kippenes, a mountain climber and adventurer would tell us how to get up after a crisis - how to motivate yourself to keep walking. 

Friday afternoon, our project group got a phone call from Harald, where he said;

"Hi, yesterday, I fell off a cliff, and broke both my legs. I am currently at the hospital."

We immediately thought we would have to cancel his appearance - you know the feeling - blood turns cold, sweat appears on your forehead.

"But I would love to do the presentation anyway - do you guys know if we can set up a video conference session instead?" 

A long story short - Tandberg, the Hospital, the hotel and the ISP Ice turned the world upside down, and during Friday evening, they made it possible. Working late and long hours, for a project they had no economic interest in. 

They accepted a challenge, they made it possible, and they prove that technology and priority makes things happen.

From a security point of view, this story shows that even when you think all is lost, and you have to give in - creativity, network and a stayer-attitude makes it possible to achieve your goals - even though the solutions you end up with are not the same as you planned!

So the next time you want to give in, be creative, and open minded. Solutions are all around - and everything is possible.  

Can you share a similar experience?  

The other day, I received an email from one of my connections. The email is of the kind we all know: 

"Hanna is missing - please forward to all your friends" 

Unlike most of such emails and stories, this one was based on a true story. Only, time was long past due.

The background is a teenage girl, leaving her family. She decided she needed some time off, I guess. Not uncommon for teenagers, but a heavy burden on the parents.  The parents go to the police, and asks around if anyone knows where she might be hiding. Expecting the worst, I would guess. 

Thanks to the media coverage, she is found (actually, she turns herself in) after a couple of days. She is fine, just need a few days off.

So - that is the background. The story is similar to many. And they tend to create email campaigns that runs for years.

What amazes me is that people never learn. Instead of taking 10 seconds of their own time to check the reality and necessity of the story, they hit the FORWARD button and send to any and all connections. Some may have the minimum of decency to add a note like

"I hope it is OK that I forward this to you"

Well, yes it is. IF - and only IF you did a quality control. If you did spend those 10 seconds to check if this is hoax, or a true story. Or as in this case - a closed case!

All I had to do was type (actually, I am lazy, so I cut'n'pasted) the name of the poor girl into Google. And I get instant response. The girl is found. Long time ago. She is fine. No need to worry. No need to spend any more time on this case.

I urge you (you know who you are) to actually care a little bit about your connections, and a lot about the family and the persons involved in such stories the next time you choose to forward it. Take 10 seconds - or if necessary - 10 minutes - to check the story.

If not for the sake of your network - for the sake of the poor people involved.

Imagine it is you in the story. And 5 years down the line, you get the email, where people asking for your help to find you. And this goes on and on and on. Haunts you for your life.  

I will not publish her name here. I know you understand my sentiment.  

My regular readers know I am a keen networker. As such, I use Linkedin as a tool for managing my connections and finding parters, clients and resources. 

Benoit Dicaire has set up a Security professionals group on Linkedin, the purpose being to have a place to ask questions and to network. The only requirement of the group is to have a genuine interest in the topic. 

If you use LinkedIn, you may find interest in the group. The group has a homepage arriving soon too.

Another group for LinkedIn users is the WrighthandSecurity group - former LinkedInSecurity. I am a co-moderator, but the group is almost dormant - not a lot of action going on atm. Perhaps you can add some?  

Dear anonymous (I would much rather prefer to say Dear John),

First - I post this as a blogpost instead of a reply to your comment on my post about Jamparii. 

Thank you for your input. As I know you are not only claiming to do what you say, but actually are trying to build your own tool for business networking, I would much rather that you did enter your own name, John.

However, what you are pointing at is true in all new ventures. It does take capital to build success. And there are several different paths to choose from. Jim has chosen one path, and John, you took another path.

My experience tells me that the path of money alone is not enough. To build a successful networking site, you need quality. You need content. You need active users. And you need a value proposition to your users.

Linkedin, Xing and Facebook are three successful networking tools, but they are very different. Ecademy and Viadeo are others. Myspace and Orcut are there too. Just to name a few of your competitors. They offer value. Distinctive value. And they have success. 

You need to present a clear value to me before I will even consider your new tool. No matter how you choose to finance you venture. Scam or not.

This is about risk as well. Do you have what it takes to break the bank? Did you consider all options? Have you done your homework, so you know how to position yourself?

What if you fail? What if it takes twice the time to break even? Or three times the time? What if you only secure half the funds you need? What if only one tenth of the required users actually signs up? 

So the question to you two competitors - do you have the BUZZ?