STaRt

I spend more time than is good for me in coffee shops.  Anyone who is a coach or consultant probably does the same thing.  I often meet clients in hotel lobbies, coffee shops etc and work in the same places between meetings.  Most of the time, beyond perfunctory conversations with staff there is little conversation outside the formally agreed meetings.  Everyone is busy with their phones and tablets and laptops.  They are all busily networking away.  I am sure it isn’t just me but it can feel a bit lonely at times.

This week after a meeting we stood up and a guy at the next table started a conversation.  Small talk.  What business are you in?  Where are you from?  We exchanged a few words.  Then we swapped business cards.  It felt good, it felt real.  There was a connection – that’s proper networking.

The world does not have to be a big unfriendly place, if we start treating strangers as friends we haven’t yet met it will be a start.

So here’s the deal: during the month of February every time I am in a coffee shop, a hotel lobby etc I will say a few words to at least one person.  Join me.  Let me know what happens.

It’s not important for you to know my name
Nor I to know yours
If we communicate for two minutes only
It will be enough
For knowing that someone in this world
Feels as desperate as me
And what you give is what you get

It doesn’t matter if we never meet again
What we have said will always remain
If we get through for two minutes only
It will be a start!

The Jam