Growing Your Social Capital

Domain Expert:

1.      Who they are, what their background is: 

1.      Brice Maddock. CEO of Teen Challenge recovery center. Over the past 25 years, Brice Maddock has had a passion to give hope to people who are feeling hopeless. His time with Teen Challenge began in 1994, volunteering as a college student.  Later, he started a program in Reno, Nevada opening a center for at-risk teens.  Teen Challenge eventually carried him to countries like India where he started a Community Transformation Program in the heart of a major slum area that reaches hundreds of people daily.

2.                  How this person is a “domain expert”: 

1.      He runs a faith based recovery program which is exactly what I’m trying to pursue in my local area that does not have a faith-based program yet.

3.                  How I found and contacted this person: 

1.      I called the national office of Teen Challenge. A few weeks later, I got a call back from the CEO.

4.                  Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation: 

1.      I explained to Brice my idea and if he would invest in business so that I can get the funds and resources I need to start saving lives.

5.                  How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity: 

By having him as a backer in my company, I can have the proper guidance to make my business successful. I’ll know all the do’s and don’ts.

Market Expert:

1.      Who they are, what their background is: 

1.      Carrie Smith. She owns many halfway houses locally.

2.                  How this person is a “market expert”: 

The people graduating from my program would want to transition into a halfway house. We would be targeting the same people.

3.                  How I found and contacted this person: 

1.      I used to live in her halfway house after I graduated Teen Challenge.

4.                  Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation: 

1.      She knows all the contacts and knows the right people that would need to stay in a one-year inpatient rehab. If people relapse, she would know where to tell them to go to.

5.                  How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity: 

1.      By having her, I won’t have trouble finding clients/students for my faith-based recovery rehab.

Industry Supplier:

1.      Who they are, what their background is: 

1.      Brian Peddle, CEO of Salvation Army (thrift store)

2.      How this person is a “industry supplier”: 

1.      He would be able to help donate merchandise from their Salvation Army to our recovery program. Extra clothes for the needy, etc.

3.                  How I found and contacted this person: 

1.      I know a few people who work for Salvation Army’s national office.

4.                  Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation: 

1.      Our plan is to have a thrift store as well. We can exchange needed items to each other’s thrift store and recovery program to assist each other’s programs.

5.                  How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity: 

1.      By including them, I will gain credibility and authenticity in my business as an industry professional.

Finally: Reflect. This experience requires you to do a little 'targeted networking.' How will this experience shape how you participate in any future networking events? Did this experience differ from your networking experiences in the past? How?

·         I thought this exercise made the most sense. By having the appropriate backers for the exact needs for my business, I will become successful. Not everyone can help me, but specific people can.