This blog has been inspired by Mehmet’s post today about ORS.

I’m not certain that the distinction between ‘connections’ and ‘being connected’ is fully appreciated. To me, connections is numbers, the number of people in your network. Many people brag about the size of their networks in LinkedIn or ecademy, for example, but connections are only the start.

It’s the number of people with whom you are connected that really determines the usefulness of your network. And being being connected requires commitment and being proactive – it’s about communicating and building relationships.

Connectedness  is, at one level, similar to some of the principles of Zen: being non-judgemental, being of service to others, keeping one’s own negative thoughts under control, rejecting any need to be ‘right’, recognising and valuing diversity of opinion and culture, being truthful, transparency and building trust.

I am really looking forward to seeing how these philosophies are applied in practical ways as people’s approach to networking and their thinking evolves.