The world is getting ever smaller -- and the Company of Friends is getting ever larger. Yet, even in the United States, some areas are too thinly populated to support a CoF cell. That's one reason why about half of all CoF members belong to the 'Unassociated' cell. Meredith Cash, 36, a trainer for the state of South Dakota, is one of those unassociated members. Based in Pierre, the state capital, Cash has learned how to make the readers' network work for her -- even though she doesn't live near enough FC readers to coordinate a cell. 'I use Fast Company's online chats as a way to meet people,' Cash says. 'I'm also glad that the magazine includes email addresses: I'm not afraid to use them.' Fast Company talked with Cash about building a network, about balancing inputs and outputs, and about increasing people's options.

What Are You Working On?

'I'm in charge of the professional-development training program for the state's 12,000 employees. But my current Wow Project is serving as president of the National Association for Government Training and Development. The association began as an alternative to the American Society for Training and Development. Working as a government trainer is a special case -- you have tight budgets, and you need to follow what the administration in power wants you to do -- so we created a new organization.'

Favorite FC Story

'The How Much Is Enough? survey really hit home (July:August 1999). The questions in the survey made me sit down and think about what I was doing, and why. I have a job that can be all-consuming. Working in government is a challenge: When you give 110%, you don't always get 110% back in terms of pay or recognition. I sometimes wonder, Is the difference that I'm making worth the effort that I'm making? After answering the survey questions myself, I decided that I have enough variety and enough challenges in my job, and that I'm still growing both professionally and personally. If my answers ever change, I'll look for a different job.'

Guiding Principle

'As a trainer, I try to give options to people who think that they don't have any. In government, so many things are regulated. You have to follow certain processes; you have to work within the system. I challenge people to consider concepts from the corporate world and to make those concepts work for them in their jobs. That really gives people a spark. They go back, they do something new or different, and they become more effective at work.'

Coordinates: Meredith Cash, meredith.cash@state.sd.us

From: November 1999 issue