We all want to feel connected to someone or something.
When you meet someone new, and you find out that they are a fan of Star Wars, don’t you feel like you have a connection? You have something in common. If all else fails, you can discuss the movies.
That’s how I felt last year meeting Pamela Slim. She was the opening speaker, and she was talking about how she has had 500+ conversations with people because of her R2 purse because of the shared experience, the shared value, and the shared joy of something like Star Wars. Since I was sitting up front, she mentioned me to the audience. We then got together at the next break to take a picture together because we had something in common.
So this weekend I am once again in Franklin, TN at Jeff Goins’ Tribe Conference, where I will be connecting with 100s of authors, artists, entrepreneurs, and more.
Today, October 26, 2018, at 2 PM I am hosting a meetup at the Frothy Monkey for the third year in a row.
I started hosting these meetups at the second conference because I had a need to connect with others and one thing I know we all share is that we are attending the conference.
Tribe Conference
In 2015, the first year of the conference, I drove through the night to arrive a few hours before the conference started. I walked into The Factory at Frankin and did not know a soul.
It was intimidating.
Everyone else seemed to be socializing easily with one another. I felt like the new kid at school at lunch, holding my tray (aka my backpack) looking for someplace to sit and someone to talk to.
It was not until I heard a voice I had heard scores of times. It was the voice of Jonathan Milligan. I had listened to 50+ of his podcasts in the previous year or so.
I walked up to him and introduced myself. He graciously let me sit with him during the day and a half long conference.
During the Conference, I met others that felt like I did and it helped me feel better.
A few times during the Conference I was able to talk with Jeff.
How To Connect
As I became more comfortable attending the Conference, I noticed that I was doing several things that helped me connect with others.
My parents spent a lot of money on braces, so I have learned to smile. This simple expression makes you more approachable.
Not in the creepy stalker way. When you make eye contact, you let the person know they are important to you.
At a conference, there is not necessarily a lot of time to connect, but everyone needs to eat. Find a person or a few people that you can share a meal with.
I despise small talk. So instead of “chit chat” I learned from Marsha Shandur of Yes Yes Marsha to ask this question, “What excited you this past week?” I then can sit back, listen, and learn a lot about a person.
For me, I prefer to walk away from a conference knowing 5-6 people well versus kind of knowing 20-30. By asking the question Marsha taught us.
Nothing will hurt your ability to connect with someone more than “not being there.” We have all experienced talking with someone who has zoned out, and you know they are not listening to you. Do not be that person. Pay attention.
Be yourself. As the saying goes, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
Wow! Nice posting! Makes me want to attend the conference! Maybe next year!!!
Next year in Jerusalem! =)
Glad to hear the devotional is coming along nicely as well! Praying God grants you strength, wisdom and peace for completing the work!
Thanks, Steve. It is a great conference. You can follow what’s going on with the conference on Twitter and Instagram by using #TribeConf