Martin Murphy

Tell us about your first Freshwalks.

I was invited by Richard Gahagan, Founder of Adam Recruitment. It was a glorious day around Edale, which ended in a pub. I believe there was a beer garden involved and it ended in being a longer day than expected. Great fun and I met a lot of new people which was great because I had just recently moved back into the area.

How many have you attended up until now, May 2019?

Around twenty plus possibly?

Why do you come back?

I have been involved in the outdoors all my life but recently hadn’t found the time to organise trips out, so this was the perfect combination. I’m re-doing my Mountain Leader training later this year so this is good experience, plus it’s a great community of people to spend time with. I’ve met new clients and made new friends. I’ve listened to people’s stories and found answers to some of my own challenges. The quality of people you meet on Freshwalks is amazing.

What’s your favourite route?

As I love being outdoors, they’re all great but prefer the longer days out around Edale.

The something you always bring?

An open mind.

Favourite Freshwalks memory?

We stopped for lunch somewhere. I had left my food on top of my rucksack and walked over to a Freshwalks newbie to offer her some food that I had spare. As I was away from my bag, Dillon the Dalmatian took that as an opportunity to snatch my sandwiches. School boy error which led to me being hungry that day, but I still chuckle now as I recall it.

How has Freshwalks helped your business?

There is such an eclectic mix of people who are willing to help you with connections, act as sounding boards and contribute ideas. It’s allowed me to connect with new clients, partner with others on mutual projects and develop an effective network for advice. Top draw.

Recommend three people you have met on Freshwalks.

I’d recommend people I trust. The shared experiences on Freshwalks allows people the opportunity to really get to know one another and build up that familiarity. I’ve not met anybody I wouldn’t recommend.

How does Freshwalks challenge typical networking formats?

Social anxiety is felt in the body as pain, such is the importance of being accepted by the group. Going into a networking situation is actually psychologically and emotionally challenging for some as we’re not designed that way. Getting to know people on Freshwalks is a side event to going on a great walk over a few hours. Even though networking is not the main event, it happens anyway through the law of indirect effort. Moreover, as you’re doing exercise outdoors you produce neurotransmitters which greatly increase people’s ability to be creative, focused, social, talkative and feel blissfully relaxed. You can’t be stressed and relaxed at the same time, so going on a Freshwalks is ideal for mental health too. I could write a whole paper on the physio-psycho-emotional benefits to be had by going on a Freshwalks, I can’t say the same when describing your regular networking events. Freshwalks is in a league of its own.

Freshwalks is a combination of exercise, networking, sharing knowledge and thinking time. How do you balance those components?

I don’t I just let it happen.

Suggest one new place for us to go.

There’s a high-level route around Dovedale, but you’d need to use buses to get there and probably not suitable from a logistics point of view.

Sum up Freshwalks in three words.

Connection. Collaboration. Community.

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