Relationship networking has been on my mind for the past 6 days, and I was unable to communicate with everyone due to the storms that hit Chicago last Thursday. The storms didn’t stop me from networking, they just stopped me from using my desktop. I am alive and still kicking in Wilmette, although I am like a bedouin living at my father’s home due to the damage. I apologize for not keeping up with my blog entry.

Last Thursday I was at Bed Bath and Beyond in Wilmette. The building started shaking and shopping carts were racing along the parking lot. I kept thinking that one of them was going to hit my car. All 30 people in the store were gathered into the break room for the duration of the tornado warning and what a great time to network.

I met a woman that wants to start speaking as a career. Who would have thought that a storm could mean a connection for someone with one of my referral sources. Well, I knew it could happen. I almost make it a challenge to meet someone each time I am stationary somewhere. So I was able to introduce her to Mikki Williams. I met my challenge.

After I left Bed Bath and Beyond I felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz - I didn’t think I was in Wilmette anymore. My neighborhood turned into a war zone. There were downed trees throughout my neighborhood in the middle of streets, and on houses. My neighbors all had huge trees split in half laying on their homes, on their lawns or in the streets. Flooding was everywhere, and there was no electricity.

Flooding came next. My basement became victim to 12 inches of water and I did not know a flood cleaning service. The people I did find were part of the FEMA relief team and they cleaned my basement yesterday - 6 men for 3 1/2 hours. THEY WERE FANTASTIC!!!!!! They do not have a website, but I want everyone to be aware of how good they were.

Disaster Services of A-Absolute LLC

513-675-9495

I have been recommending them to everyone, and you can bet they will stay in my database.

Moral to this story? Even in a storm you can see blue skies. I got to meet some new people, I have a great disaster services company to recommend, and I am getting a new basement. How bad can that be?