Wake Up and Smell the ALOHA

Coffee and networking have been working hand-in-glove with each other for centuries, probably long before the first coffee house of record opened in 1475 in Constantinople. From coffee houses favored by writers and artists to home-brewed cups shared by neighbors in cozy kitchens, it seems the most natural question to ask someone with whom you want to spend time and build a relationship is, “Wanna get a cup of coffee?”

In Hawai’i, we have our share of Starbucks and other good coffee houses where people of all ages and interests gather together to “talk story” over a cup or two. We have an economic interest in coffee because it’s an important crop for the Islands. Coffee production dates back to 1813 when Don Francisco de Paula Y Marin, a Spaniard and reportedly King Kamehameha's "right hand man," planted coffee here on Oah’u.

When most people think of Hawaiian coffee, the only type that comes to mind is Kona. However, all the major islands produce wonderful coffees. Kaua’i Peaberry is a favorite of mine, but I can also choose coffees from Maui and Moloka’i. The coffee brewing in my kitchen at this moment is from Waialua, an area on the northern side of Oah’u.

I’m not a coffee snob exactly, but I have gotten very spoiled by the fine coffees served at the coffee houses in my neighborhood. I have three within walking distance, all locally-owned and all obsessed with quality. I didn’t realize how accustomed I have become to good coffee until I ventured into a fast food joint last week (it will remain McNameless) and practically choked on the swill offered up to me (albeit with a cheerful smile).

That won’t happen again, because thanks to networking, I met Janine Wedemeyer, who introduced me to Shereen Saiki, who introduced me to Zondre Watson, who represents Miss Mary Mac’s Hawaiian Coffee Shack, a purveyor of freshly-roasted, high-quality Kona and Waialua coffees. The Coffee Shack is on the North Shore, but they have internet ordering and super-fast shipping, so I am never more than a day away from my favorite blend.

The service is prompt and personal. When Zondre saw that I placed an internet order, instead of mailing it to me, he hand-delivered it when I visited his BNI (Business Network International) chapter. Imagine me with my very own coffee merchant! I felt as rich as the coffee. Do you think I’ll recommend Miss Mary Mac holiday gift baskets to my friends, family, and to you, Dear Readers? You bet I will. And I’m getting my holiday orders in early, too.

That’s the power of networking. I asked Zondre to share a few words with us about his take on networking and how it has impacted his business. This is what he emailed me:

"Networking has helped our business. Being a part of BNI for four years has allowed me to meet many different professionals. I have been able to meet people on each area of the island where there is a chapter. And each of these groups has a different set of contacts.

“Visiting the groups has given me referrals for my business that I normally would have never met. It has also given me credibility with certain referrals. I have been able to contact someone I wanted to connect with and say, ‘I am a member of BNI from the Akamai chapter,’ and they will take my call or be more open to discussing our services or the services of one of my associates.

“My personal network has also helped our business, because I am able to get advice from professionals I would have never been able to hire as a start up business. Because we have a personal relationship, those people are willing to give suggestions which have helped in our marketing, web development, and business strategy. I have also received advertising opportunities because a friend needs to fill some space or wants to put an attractive business in his or her media.

“Much of our business growth has come from word of mouth. The Kona coffee business has quite a few businesses involved. Most people assume that one bag is just as good as another, so having an associate tell someone, ‘You have to try their coffee because I’s so much fresher or higher quality’ goes a long way toward getting them to try our product. I have also received calls from people who heard about us through someone else, and it wasn’t because they were a client or because of advertising: it was because we knew each other through another associate or from the racquet club or whatever.”

Are there any networking trends unique to Hawai’i?

“I don’t know if it is unique to Hawaii, and I believe this policy should be followed everywhere: it’s important that you maintain relationships with people for the relationship’s sake rather than because you need something. If you reach out to an associate when you’re out of a job or business is slow but you haven’t talked to that person in a couple of years, he or she may feel ‘used,’ or you may look desperate. So it is important to maintain those connections.

“And it is important that you reciprocate by helping your contacts whenever you can. I believe in Hawaii this becomes more of an issue, because we are a small community. And you never know who your associates are or might become. It can help you immensely if you are continuously cultivating strong relationships, and it can hurt you if you get a reputation for doing the opposite. I also think that people in Hawaii are community-oriented, so they tend to do business with people who are referred to them or because aunty, uncle, or cousin gave them a referral.”

What advice would you give to a novice networker?

“Get involved as much as you can. Focus on developing relationships and helping other people rather than on what you are going to get out of the network. When you build your own strong network of contacts, the returns will come.”

I think I’ll go ponder that advice over my fresh-roasted, chocolate-almond-flavored Waialua coffee from Miss Mary Mac’s Hawaiian Coffee Shack, where the motto is: "A Hawaiian Sunrise in Every Cup.”

With aloha,
Sandy McKee

P.S. You can order Miss Mary Mac coffee and Hawaiian Lauhala Gift Baskets online at www.m3coffee.com.

Contact Sandy at SandyM@TheNationalNetWorker.com or TNNW Blog.