By Bob Littell and Brownell Landrum

Do you ever say “I’ve just got to introduce you to…” and then promptly go about setting up a meeting between two friends, colleagues or business associates?  If so, you’re what’s called a natural “Netweaver” and there’s a week dedicated to people like you.

NetWeaving is the business version of Pay It Forward, where people host meetings to introduce others. The idea is simple, powerful and exponential.  Think of two people who would benefit by an introduction and schedule a meeting to introduce them.  Now, all they have to do is netweave others together and it becomes a powerful force for building the economy in Atlanta exponentially.

NetWeaving is all about being a “connector” of others and building trusted relationships, doing so because you genuinely believe what goes around, does come back.

“When I think of how I got where I am,” said Chuck Merino, CEO of the Round Table of Success,  “I owe so much of it to the connections which others made on my behalf. Now, I get real enjoyment by paying it forward and introducing others.”

Business executives, owners and entrepreneurs who have experienced the power of NetWeaving have joined forces to launch the first ever NetWeaving Week in Atlanta. Scheduled for April 26-30, thousands of Atlantans will fill up restaurants, coffee shops, business clubs and other locations with NetWeaving “hosting” meetings.

During the week, NetWeavers will “host” meetings to introduce two persons whom he or she believes would benefit meeting each other for business purposes or just as a new friendship, and then ask each of them to “pay it forward” and do the same for two other people – creating a financial ripple effect for our area and a real economic stimulus.

The Society of Human Resource Management is promoting a similar project in which companies will encourage employees to host internal meetings (across department or across-functions) to introduce two people within the company who don’t know each other, but who would benefit meeting and learning more about the person and what she or he does. This is how NetWeaving can help tear down walls and silos — just getting people to know each other as human beings and gaining more of an appreciation for the role they play within the company.

Corporate sponsors and other donations will raise money and benefit both Junior Achievement, whose mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy, and the Pay It Forward Foundation (PIFF), whose mission is to inspire and celebrate ”random acts of kindness” around the world.  In conjunction with this mission, the PIFF makes ”mini-grants” (up to $500) to school-age children who come up with ideas and projects consistent with the “pay it forward” concept.

How to Get Involved: Make a list of people you know and whom you can introduce to others. Then, schedule an in-person meeting with you and the two people.  For more details on the week and on how to become a NetWeaving Ambassador go to www.netweaving-pif-week.com.