When Big Ooga opened for business its guiding principle was to bring really good entrepreneurs and small business owners together across industry and specialty.

I’m sure you know from experience that working with new people is risky. If you’ve hired someone to provide a service, they have to meet your standards and expectations. If you’ve partnered with a professional to work on behalf of your company, they have to work at the level of quality and care that you do. It’s your rep on the line.

The commitment to finding excellent entrepreneurs and small companies takes time and discretion. This is where I choose to spend my own time because I want Big Ooga to be that kind of group.

When we consider a company for membership I speak with the business owner, review their work, talk to their references and get to know them as people and professionals. Often I work with them to find out more, so I can get inside of their process.

Then I make referrals or host their classes, knowing I can proudly put the Big Ooga name behind them.

Call me crazy but I only want to work with people who have my back and my future, people I would invite to dinner or into a project.

Call me idealistic to only want to surround myself with people who care about others’ achievements.

Now call me realistic – because that is exactly the kind of group we’ve built together.

To call ourselves a network is an injustice. But Big Honking Consortium of Mutual Respect Designed to Drive Business To Your Business is just a little crass and long-winded.

Luckily we have some pretty fantastic marketers and branders in the group – and as we move into the future you will most certainly see the right words come onto the page.

Until then, I hope you can feel the love and find your people.