Facilitation

Facilitator:  someone or something that facilitates something; especially :  someone who helps to bring about an outcome (such as learning, productivity, or communication) by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, or supervision - the workshop's facilitator kept discussion flowing smoothly

I called a friend of mine in Albuquerque the other day to encourage him to attend Village Idiot Armada Days (VIAD) which is scheduled for June 22-26 in Las Vegas:

"What do you mean when you claim you are a facilitator?" I was explaining to Junior a new age is upon us. It is imperative he, along with whomever else attends VIAD understand exactly what the palpability of a well planned facilitation process is capable of - "When I say I am a facilitator, think of it as a person who brings products and services to the forefront of new audiences. Facilitating is a big, big part of how internet entrepreneurship works."

However one decides to define facilitating is up to them...If you want my laymen's definition...it is as simple as this - A person or small group who are capable of getting completely underneath viable concepts and ideas and lifting them to a level that is understandable to a larger group - "Facilitating is not for the feint of heart," I add with a laugh.

Junior owns and operates a beef jerky company in Albuquerque and has been doing quite well at it. But like every small business he is looking to expand - "Look," I tell him intently, "When you come to VIAD I am going to devise a way for you to place your product into a Chinese market," I then add, "Doesn't that sound like a good deal. There's a billion potential new customers." He says, sheepishly, "Asians aren't into beef jerky." I immediately respond - "I disagree!" I then add - with vigor, "The problem is they have not been introduced to your product. They're over a billion Chinese. I am positive you can find a clientele in there if you can reach them. My role as a facilitator is to make such things possible."

We chat about the weather for a minute and he says - "The wife and I are coming to VIAD and I will bring plenty of samples of beef jerky." I smile and say, "I have been telling you this for years. Sooner or later the times would shift and my way of thinking would become chic or en vogue or whatever you want to call it. Now we have an administration who is taking a better stance on trade and commerce, especially with Asians." I then ask if he remembers what I have been stressing to him and others for a long time, he answers - "Yes I remember. You said, 'When your way of thinking becomes tangible to people it will hit like a fucking hurricane." I smile widely.