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READING YOUR WRITES By Beverley East

George Fraser’s art of networking

2008 is here! Happy New Year to each and every one of you! May I take this opportunity to thank you all for your support in reading this column! I am approaching my 8th year, how time flies. It was a connection in New York with Dave Rodney how I landed myself this amazing opportunity to be a contributor to Pure Class. The rest is history, as they say.

I truly believe that the success to your career is in the “Art of Networking”. When I moved to America over 20 years ago I realised that it wasn’t what you know but who. Over the years at many conferences I have seen George Fraser develop this skill into a global business.

His lecturers are both inspiring and informative way beyond the price of the ticket you may pay to hear him speak or the purchase of his books. His personal story is amazing and I caught up with him at the Institute of Caribbean Studies gala in Washington, DC, last month, where he was an honoree for the Trailblazer award.

What makes George Fraser tick?
Le me begin with the fluidity of his handwriting, which expresses that he is a flexible person. He will run with the wolves and swim with the sharks. The ‘t’ bar in the word ‘stay’ tells us he is an extremely enthusiastic individual. The pointed letters such as the ‘u’ and ‘r’ in the word ‘course’ and the ‘r’ in his name, ‘Fraser’, show an analytical thinker.

There may be a tendency to stretch himself too thin in trying to be all things to all people. The overlapping of letters in all three sentences is a dead giveaway, especially in the letter ‘y’ in the word Beverley, the word ‘course’ in the second line and the ‘F’ in his name ‘Fraser’ in the third line.

The ending strokes in the letter ‘e’ in the word ‘course’ demonstrate he has a generous spirit and the final stroke in his name shows someone although ruled by his heart, as demonstrated by the right slant, is cautious until he feels comfortable in his environment.

The many hooks in his handwriting show his tenacious spirit, as shown at the bottom of the stem in the letter ‘t’ in the word ‘stay’ and the initial stroke in the letter ‘G’ of ‘George’ and the final stroke in the letter ‘r’ in ‘Fraser’.

The flat roof ‘r’ shows his remarkable creativity. The connection of his letters shows that he is a people-person who likes to say connected. The long ‘y’ in the word Beverley and the word ‘stay’ show he too can stay the course and he is determined with a high energy level.

About Fraser
George Fraser PhD is chairman and CEO of Fraser Net Inc., a Cleveland based company he founded some 20 years ago to lead a global networking movement for people of African descent. Dr Fraser had humble beginnings. He was born one of 11 in Brooklyn, NY. He was orphaned at four and spent 14 years in foster homes. George defied his guidance counselor and the system by graduating from high school with an occasional diploma in woodworking. He paid his way through college by mopping floors on the midnight shift at LaGuardia Airport and the rest is history as they say.

Dr George Fraser went on to leadership positions with Proctor & Gamble, the United Way and Ford. He is the author of two critically acclaimed books, Success Runs In Our Race: The Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African American Community and Rave for Success: The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks in America.

He also publishes the award-winning annual, Success Guide Worldwide: The Networking Guide to Black Resources. He is the founder of the annual Power networking conference, the optimum venue for thousands of Black professionals, business owners and community leaders.

I caught up with this dynamic man at the Institute of Caribbean Studies Gala where he received the Trailblazer award. Dr Fraser has been married to Nora Jean for nearly 34 years and they have two sons, Kyle and Scott.

His new book Click hits the bookstands in America on January 14. It’s been ten years in the making.

Click pulls back the curtains to reveal a simple, proven powerhouse system that will show you ten simple principles that will dispel your dread of networking forever and reveal a proven path to success and happiness. A must read for the New Year.

If you wish to send me your comments or questions I can be reached on writenow@cwjamaica.com