Only Connect, then watch the ripples you create

“The Old Guard” (Photo courtesy of Netflix © 2020 )

I’ve flowed on a theme in recent days, from “Don’t be bland if you want to be remembered” to “Weirdness is a Superpower” and now “Only Connect”.

Taken as a piece, these three posts are about both choosing to stand out, choosing to stand for something and then choosing to be abundant in giving to others.

I love to connect with people, then to connect them to others. In both cases I like those connections to be meaningful, so when I “click” with someone I like to build depth in that connection and relationship (and this also makes it so much more likely to make meaningful connections for others).

I love to connect, yet one person I connected and met with a little before the pandemic is a master connector and this is, simply, what he does. His name is Oli Barrett and he wrote a piece the other day on LinkedIn: “Making Life-Changing Introductions”, breaking down his 16 tips to making connections, then finishes with these powerful thoughts:

Next time you want to think really deeply and carefully about the future of your career or organisation, or the impact you’re having in the world, take an hour to draw a map. A people map. Begin to write down the names of the people you care most about in the world. Ask yourself how sure you are about who those people need to meet to achieve their dreams…