Creative Commons Photo by stevendepolo on Flickr
As I flew to Fort Myers last week, I found myself sitting next to a 10 year old girl. We chatted a little before take off, then settled in for the two and a half hour flight. With my Time magazine in hand, I noticed that she had her writing pad and mini stamps. She sat happily stamping as I read about what was going on in the world.
A few minutes later the girl quietly placed a piece of paper and pen on my tray table. On the paper was written, “What’s your name?” For the next hour and a half, we had the most delightful conversation writing back and forth to each other on her writing paper.
At the end of the flight, “Loren” asked what my last name was and whether I was on Facebook. She then said that she would be my friend.
I don’t know why this experience has stayed with me ever since. If we had just talked, I don’t think it would have had as great an impact. So, what did she teach me about playing big?
Be open to the unexpected.
Although I had planned to get some reading done, I wouldn’t have traded this little exchange for the world. It actually made my day.
In business and life, this is a good rule of thumb. Once you are on the right path for you, all sorts of connections will become available to you if you are open. Sometimes, it might be just the right contact to take you to the next level. Sometimes, it is someone you can help who is on a similar path.
Don’t be intimidated.
I was really impressed that this little girl was not afraid to invite me into a conversation, even though I was reading my magazine. And, it did not seem intrusive at all.
Someone said to me that she must have felt a connection already for her to do what she did. Maybe so. But just asking “What’s your name?” is a good start. You’ll find out soon enough if the other person is open for a conversation.
I read a story last week along the same lines from Gwyn Michael, the environmental artist. She made contact with someone on Twitter that she admired and asked her to look at her Kickstarter project. Not only did the person look, she made a donation to the project.
If you want to make a connection with someone, go for it. There’s no harm in trying. Just make it a gentle invitation, giving them the option to say no.
Be curious.
This little girl wanted to know lots of things, like what I liked to do and how I liked my iPad and who was the friend I was visiting. It was all asked with curiosity, not nosiness. She wanted to know who I was.
There is so much to learn and know and experience in this world. We are all constantly evolving. Life is short, so be curious and expand your world.
Tell people about yourself.
No one was a stranger to this little girl. And she wanted to tell me about her family and how she liked to play softball but didn’t really like reading and writing so much.
How will we ever get people to know us or our work unless we put ourselves out there. Sometimes, people don’t know what to ask us, so let them know what you’re up to. And then, turn the tables and be curious about them.
Enjoy the moment.
I think one of the reasons this experience was so enjoyable is that it took me outside of what I had planned, including thinking about where I was going and what I would be doing for the next three days. For that hour and a half, the two of us were totally in the moment, not knowing what would come next on our little sheet of paper. We were two people making a connection and enjoying the moment.
Isn’t that what life is all about?
Do check out Tara Mohr’s Playing Big program or book (paid link). The program was the driving force behind the work I’m doing now.