King Family Network

People often joke about the Mormon network and how if you talk to another Mormon long enough you will find someone that you both know.  In my life I've got another network that is almost more powerful and awesome. I like to call it the King Family Network.  

I became aware of the power of the King Family Network about a year ago as I walked up to the lobby outside of my nonprofit management class.  As I walked up I overheard Tommy Montoya say, "Well, to speak of the devil." I was a bit confused about why they were talking about me so of course I inquired.  Tommy explained that he, Renée, and Marcie were just talking about how they all knew a cousin of mine from totally random and different places.  Tommy grew up next door to my cousin Deanne Palmer Webb in Pinetop, AZ, where she was his childhood babysitter.  Renée knows my cousin, Holly King, from Boston.  Marcie knows the whole Kauwe clan because she grew up right down the road from them in Orem.  The funniest part about it was that they were discussing it without me even being there.

While I was in Orlando last week I discovered that the girl I had been sharing a bed with for two nights was my cousin's cousin.  Such a small world!

Today during my internship training I gained an even greater appreciation for the King Family Network.  On our way to lunch I was talking to Jenny Brown and she said that she is from St. Johns, AZ.  I told her that Grant and Cindy Palmer lived up there for a while.  She asked if they had a son named Greg and I said yes. She said that Greg and her older sister were good friends in high school.  After lunch I was in the classroom putting my stuff down when one of our teachers, Robert Hokanson, asked me if I am related to Norm King.  I said yes and then he proceeded to tell me that he worked with him at Mentors International several years ago. I chuckled in my mind thinking about the King Family Network.

During Robert's lesson this afternoon we had a discussion about characteristics of entrepreneurs.  I don't remember what question he asked but when I raised my hand he said, "Lizzy, you come from a family of great entrepreneurs, tell us what you think."  I shared my comment but the whole time I was thinking about what he had just said.  The more I thought about it I was thinking, "YEAH! We are a family of great entrepreneurs!"  My dad, many uncles, and even some cousins have started successful businesses.  I don't ever spend time with my brother, Randy, without him sharing some great, new business idea with me. Robert's point hit me even harder a few minutes later when he asked who knew an entrepreneur on a personal level and only one other intern raised his hand.  I could talk about the entrepreneurs I know all day long.  

I am grateful to be a part of the King Family.  For the aforementioned reasons, and many others, I have been left a great legacy to follow.