Building a business from networking - with David Bell of PCD Group

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#195: David Bell is a founder and director of PCD Group and has over 15 years of experience in advising high net worth clients on personal tax and financial planning.  He explains what goes into creating an effective networking event, what it’s like having a hobby that is also a business, and when to go full-time with a business you’re creating.

What you’ll learn

• [01:41] How the PCD Group helps professionals in the Private Wealth sector network.
• [02:55] The problems with cocktail party networking.
• [05:38] What goes into creating an effective networking event. 
• [07:31] The benefits of business cards and why some people don’t use them.
• [09:55] How David became an expert in networking.
• [13:45] The challenge of starting a networking group.
• [15:50] How to know which opportunities to focus on.
• [19:36] The intentional steps behind career changes.
• [21:41] Building sales skills and other lessons from previous jobs.
• [25:17] How to not take business changes personally.
• [26:18] Having a hobby that is also a business.
• [29:55] When to go full-time with a business you’re creating.
• [33:00] The benefits of having a fallback plan.
• [33:55] How the pandemic affected networking businesses.
• [39:15] How a business's finances change when it moves online.
• [41:56] The effort that went into keeping a networking business running during Covid.
• [43:26] The current state of the PCD Group and what the future looks like.

Resources mentioned in this episode
Please note that some of these are affiliate links and we may get a commission in the event that you make a purchase.  This helps us to cover our expenses and is at no additional cost to you.

• Wave Connect Digital Business Card
• Dixon Wilson
• Ingenious Media
• Merrill Lynch
• Lombard Odier
• “Life’s not a rehearsal”
• The Muppet Christmas Carol

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/building-a-business-from-networking/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!