Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 21: They are the dream merchants who design the dreams for others, by involving businessmen – both struggling and successful; they involve them in meetings and brainstorming sessions to take up challenges to translate the dreams into collective action. They share personal experiences, success stories of others within the community. In one word, Dimensions provide a platform for the Christian businessmen and professionals by bonding them together under human values.

Their hallmark is short, yet clear and very convincing – “Success is a journey and not a destination”. Their mission statement is considerably long but it defines their fashion in certain terms. It says –“Dimensions is a movement of Christian entrepreneurs and professionals with a dream to create wealth for its members and the community by pooling and harnessing resources and nurturing each others growth in a spirit of transparency, commitment, excellence and trust”

They have hence taken the pledge to crack a stigma attached to Christians – “Christian community is individually rich but collectively poor”. 

‘Dimensions” holds networking breakfast meetings, 4th Saturdays of every month. There is a formal membership at a nominal fee with set rules and guidelines. Meetings start at 8am with an opening prayer. Members then introduce themselves and their business and mention if they have any specific need or contact in any firm. They close with a 'memory hook' which is a slogan relating to their business and, which serves to imprint them & their business in the minds of diamonds present. Each one is given 60 seconds to do this. At the end of the meeting those who can help any of the members give them referrals in the form of names & contact numbers.

These meetings help businessmen, professionals etc to have a progressive interaction which includes a strong dose of knowledge exchange thus helping every businessman in the of growth of one’s business. Dimensions also aspires to be a breeding ground for the youth to pursue entrepreneurship,

A lot of members have benefited vastly from their attendance at these networking meetings not only by way of the inputs but also by way of business referrals etc. A lot of deals have been struck and one can surely  benefit by being a part of the highly vibrant Christian Business network, which Dimensions stands for.

The Global Meet

After realizing the need for connectivity globally, the ‘Dimensions’ have organized the above conference on 22 & 23 January 2010, at the Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The event has the active support of Christian Chamber of commerce and Industry, in addition to Kanara Entrepreneurs Global and Bombay Catholic Sabha.

The conference without doubt will bring the Christian businessmen and professionals, belonging to different denominations and affiliations together, first time. The world wide Christian business fraternity will be provided an opportunity to come face to face as a community, to get to know personally in general and to acquaint with each other’s business in particular. It will further help to widen one’s business and professional prospects, and to find ways and means to progress and expand the business opportunities around the world.

Not a small task considering the fact that the scope and range of any business in this global age has no specific perimeter, irrespective of the type of product, the location where is comes from or the shape and size of the organization or its products. One would normally find the end uses scattered around the world. It’s no more a time to wait for the customer to come to one’s shop floor, but like the code of belief in shipping industry states – “Don’t wait for the ship come to you but jump and swim across to the ship”.

Rightly so, many big businesses today after acquainting with the potential of a particular market, establish their base very next to the customers. But before doing so, it’s equally important to educate oneself in market potential, and the risk involved in setting up of a business in a particular region. The business conventions such as this serve the purpose in providing opportunity and advantage.

In a recent awarding ceremony in Mangalore, the chief guest J. Crasta, President , Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangalore commented – “Christians are brought up in such values like honesty and spirituality that they are hardly trained to take up business as  a profession. Those who have tried and taken a risk have grown into successful businessmen and employers. But the rest and majority of them have found solace working as employees”

Says Freddy Mendonca, the founder of ‘Dimensions’ more or less echoing the same sentiments:

“Christians are brought up in a sheltered life by the Church and school institutions from the day we are born. We make good employees because our integrity is high; we work hard and are well educated. But we are not trained in networking or starting business. Our very strength of the past has become our current weakness. We are unprepared for the harsh world full of opportunities”.

Further he says, by defining the relationship between business and spirituality –“Business ought to be conducted under moral ethics, strong  social values, and within the framework of legal and environmental requirements”

What - ICCC Dimensions Global Meet 2010
When - 22 – 23 January 2010
Where - Hotel Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai
Who – organised by Dimensions, Christian business group, Supported by : Christian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, KEL Global and Bombay Catholic Sabha
Why – To provide an unique opportunity for Christian businessmen and professionals from different Christian denominations-   to know, to network and promote business within the Christian community ,both in India and abroad