| | | | A Tribute to Tricia...... |
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| | | By Michael Comyn
This is one of the saddest, yet inspiring things I have been asked to do in recent times, to pen some words in tribute to a true friend and business colleague. Tricia Murphy has left our network but her powerful influence remains. |
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| | | This is one of the saddest, yet inspiring things I have been asked to do in recent times, to pen some words in tribute to a true friend and business colleague. Tricia Murphy has left our network but her powerful influence remains.
I first met Tricia when she breezed into a radio studio back in 2001 to talk about this “really new concept of networking”. We hit it off straight away, her infectious humour and her bright smile and the mischievous twinkle in her eye made me feel we had been friends for years. She laughed as she reminded the audience to take the business cards out from the back of the drawer and start passing them out. Next followed an invitation to one of her “Salons” . She blew her whistle and the networking began. In the years that followed we kept in touch through her salons and her regular visits to the radio studio where she could sell the concept of networking with all her passion for people.
Tricia Murphy was a networking coach and consultant and has over 20 years experience working internationally with companies and individuals to develop and refine their networking skills. Her self belief in the power of networking led to the founding of the TiG Alliance in 2001 which specialised in training in networking skills and developing and facilitating effective networking events. Tricia believed that effective networking involves discovering, developing and unlocking connections between people and opening up hidden opportunities presented through personal introductions and the development of mutually beneficial relationships. She lived this philosophy and that is why she touched the lives of so many people.
My more recent and precious memory of Tricia is my 50th birthday party, this April past and Tricia held court, planning on staying for a few minutes she lasted the night and as the phrase so perfectly fits was “the life and soul of the party”.
There were times with Tricia, when I wondered had she forgotten my first name as I was always referred to as Mr Comyn! When the phone rang and I was addressed as Mr Comyn I knew Tricia had plans for me. Whether it was to interview her on her fabulous trip to New Zealand or to promote her next speaking engagement I knew that once the interview had been done we would settle back in the studio and put the world to rights as friends, while the music played.
On Tricia’s website www.tig.ie is a recording from a radio programme on Easter Sunday 2009 when Tricia shared the news of her diagnosis with me and the listeners. As I write this I am listening back to the interview and the courage, optimism and determination in her voice carries through. I am prouder of that interview more any other because it is so genuine and authentic. When it finished, off air I summoned the courage to ask the question I did not want to ask on air. “Was the optimism real or was she putting on a brave face”. The answer...”Oh no Mr Comyn - this is for real”... I now know the doubt was for my own abilities to cope, not hers.
Tricia’s career brought her around the world to live in the West Indies, Mexico, and Italy. She told me once that this final journey was one she was not expecting yet it was a journey that taught her something new. She was not the Scaredy Cat she once thought she was. Another thing she learnt was that a lot more people liked her than she thought. How right she was. | | | | If you would like to add your own tribute to Tricia, please email Mary Eastwood who will insure your tribute is added to this page. | | | | President: Mary Eastwood | | | | email: president@networkdublin.com | | | | | |
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