According to my brother, Shawn, we live in a small world, but only if we choose to be plugged into it. Knowingly or unknowingly, every day, we undoubtedly pass by people who are connected to us in some way, shape, or form.
Shawn, who is the Managing Broker and Vice President at ReeceNichols – The Village, was reminded of this on the first night of his family’s vacation cruise. A woman, Bailey, was speaking with some fellow passengers. When Shawn heard her say that she was from Kansas City, he perked up and said, “We are, too!”
As it turns out, not only does Bailey live in an adjacent neighborhood, but she responded with, “Oh, wow! I do some community work with your sister!” Bear in mind, Shawn and his family were on a cruise ship of over 4,000 passengers. What were the odds?
The likelihood of them meeting was, in reality, fairly high, but ONLY because Shawn chose to put himself in a position to make his world smaller. What does that mean? Well, wanting to connect with fellow passengers, Shawn and his family attended a shipboard event. Had they not done so and chosen to keep only to themselves, they likely would not have met Bailey and her family. Shawn’s world would have remained bigger and less connected.
Your assignment based on this anecdote: Intentionally make your world a little bit “smaller” by engaging in your communities and with the seeming strangers around you. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Say yes to a community event. Whether it’s a neighborhood block party, a professional association happy hour, or a volunteer opportunity with a local nonprofit, choose one gathering this month where you’ll meet people outside your usual circle. Show up with curiosity about who might be there.
- Strike up a conversation with someone in your everyday orbit. The parent you see at school pickup, the regular at your coffee shop, the neighbor walking their dog at the same time as you… ask a simple question or make a friendly observation. You never know what connections might emerge from these micro-moments.
- Accept (or extend) an introduction. When someone offers to connect you with another person, say yes. Better yet, think of two people in your network who should know each other and make the introduction yourself. These bridging connections are how small worlds get built, one relationship at a time.
Find those hidden connections and you will see what a small world we live in indeed!
Happy Networking!
This is so true! My husband and I were on a cruise, on an excursion, and also met someone from Olathe – who lived right down the street from us. And then this past summer, we were in Chicago and met a family who lives in our neighborhood. So yes, it is definitely a small world!
I took your advice today and sent connections to broaden my network! Thanks for the suggestion!