Project Exponential

Tag: communication

  • What connects us

    Understanding that first and foremost, the life you want to create for yourself, the type of person you want to become, the parts of yourself you’re most excited to develop will attract individuals who will help you get there.

    Realizing that true, authentic connection is expansive. The right relationship discovered at the right time can help you soar, find freedom, create, and see a limitless future.

    Recognizing that relationships are catalysts for growth and independence — for supporting both reckless abandon and providing the foundation to carry the wisdom that comes from experience, failure, frustration, pain.

    Acknowledging that your highest highs and lowest lows are probably different than mine; the value lies in sharing and discovering what these experiences were like for each of us.

    Accepting that at your very worst, you are someone’s pride and joy. Knowing this helps reveal the very best parts of you.

    That through the fog of confusion and longing, we can help each other find shared laughter and bouts of success, punctuated with gratitude and contentment along the way.

    That our mutual appreciation for life — the ups and downs, the hard lessons and the easy ones — may or may not happen at the same time. Your up might be my down, but no matter, when we find ourselves on the same plane, we can share the lessons we learned and the tricks we used to get us through.

    Embracing that this is all really about compassion, about elevating each other and pushing one another to succeed by sharing our struggles and our wins.

    We collaborate because our ideas become greater. Like a brilliant prism, the unique perspectives we each offer leads to undiscovered treasure.

    It’s our gift to find it.

  • The art of community

    Community doesn’t just happen. It takes time and effort and care.

    Amidst routine and packed schedules, relationships deserve a sacred setting. You can’t deny the electricity that encompasses a group breaking bread. It’s an act that has held magic and mystery for centuries.

    Whether the dining table, the running track, the book club, or the coffee group, find your place for sharing and storytelling. The more authentic you can be, the more comfortable your cohort will feel.

    Build a bedrock for meaningful conversation and lasting relationships, a canvas for discussion and deliberation. Look to encourage that spark, that contagious flame that sets ideas ablaze. Serendipity sometimes needs a little push.

    Turn connection into art.

     

  • Essential ingredients of great dinner parties

    I’ve attended dinner parties with incredibly talented, driven individuals. But for whatever reason, the energy isn’t right. People who should be brainstorming and dreaming together end up at opposite ends of the table. Conversation seems forced and inauthentic. This frustrates me beyond words.

    You want people to tell stories. A dinner can be a long time to sit next to someone in which no connection is shared. Seating matters. Guests don’t need to stay in the same spot all night.

    Introduce individuals from complementary industries. Instigate unexpected relationships. Create a welcoming environment that acts as the backdrop for stories and connection. Deliberate planning is the difference between good and great.

    A seating arrangement is an easy way to convey advance preparation. The right pairing of personalities can focus the energy of the party, and proper introductions is a subtle nod to the talents and expertise of those involved. Seating complementary interests next to each other is a detail appreciated by any dinner guest, and, when planned with intention, can optimize opportunities for individuals to shine.

    When a guest enters a room and knows she’s been considered in advance, a shift happens. Suddenly, her focus changes. She is no longer a passive observer and is encouraged to play an active role as participant.

  • 12 questions to turn small talk into real talk 

    So much of getting to know someone is about asking the right questions (and really listening to the answer). If you’re feeling stumped on how to get beyond weather, kids, and menu options, use these prompts to guide you towards stuff that really matters. I’ve separated them into three categories to help you identify which questions to ask depending on situation and individual:

    • Passion – For individuals you admire and want to model your own life after; figure out what gets someone going, what moves them, brightens their day, fuels their dreams, inspires their work.
    • Personal – For individuals you’d like to get to know better; these questions can be effective ice breakers to better understand motivations of an acquaintance.
    • Bridge – For individuals you’d like to collaborate and partner with; these questions allow you to assess areas of overlap and uncover how you can thoughtfully connect and add value.

    Passion

    Uncover the sources from which individuals draw inspiration to learn more about their interests and gain added reserves of creativity, insight, and spark for yourself. See how they view the world (and think about ways you might help).

    1. What inspires you?

    2. What one problem do you presently wish you could solve?

    3. If you were given 1 million dollars, what would you do with it?

    4. What’s your favorite aspect of your work?

    Personal

    Not everyone finds it easy to talk about their hobbies, dislikes, and passions. Concrete questions can facilitate discussion and provide insight into someone’s dreams and goals. Ensure conversation feels less like an interview and more like an exchange by offering complementary ideas when appropriate.

    5. What does your perfect day look like?

    6. What would “your book” be about?

    7. What do you wish you would have learned in school (but didn’t)?

    8. What are you afraid of?

    Bridge

    Identifying pain points and similar areas of interest can assist your effectiveness as a connector and impresario. Turn an introductory conversation into something worthwhile by leaving something valuable behind — a new idea, a business contact, an unavoidable question.

    9. What’s the most difficult part of your work?

    10. What has been the most valuable introduction you’ve received?

    11. Where are you stuck?

    12. How can I help?

  • 10 questions to ask at a dinner party (instead of “What do you do?”)

    You’ve invited twelve of your closest friends for dinner. No one knows anyone else, and they’re from different parts of your life: Work, parenting group, school, bowling club, gym class. You’ve hired a chef and set the table. Now…how do you get people to talk? “What do you do?” is an easy question. Overused, expected. Here are 10 other questions you can ask, straight off the tables of Project Exponential dinners:

    1. Grand Central Station has room for a new restaurant in the basement. What should we recommend?
    2. The Embassy has asked us to suggest a week-long itinerary for a group of influential foreigners. No one speaks the same language. Where should we take them? What should we do?
    3. We’ve been commissioned to orchestrate vending machines that will be placed in high-traffic tourist areas. What’s inside?
    4. The Department of Education wants us to design a course that will become part of all high school curricula. What do we teach?
    5. How do you encourage risk-taking and entrepreneurial thinking among a team that is afraid to break the rules?
    6. We’ve been given access to a 3D printer and can print ONE THING to be distributed worldwide. What is the thing?
    7. If we were to write one book that everyone here could contribute to, what would it be?
    8. The mayor wants us to develop a ride-sharing program that encourages interaction among residents and visitors. Ideas?
    9. Apple wants us to throw their next company party. Is there a theme? Who do we invite?
    10. What one problem do you presently wish you could solve?

    Write questions on cards and pass them around the table. If you’re feeling really ambitious, separate your guests into teams and group individuals with complementary skills.

  • Connect today

    Pick up the phone and ask someone to meet you for lunch. Invite someone you’d like to learn from, someone you could get to know a little better. Choose four questions to bring along with you:

    • What advice would you have given yourself five years ago?
    • Favorite aspect of your work?
    • Most challenging part of your job?
    • You can pick one person to have coffee with. Who would it be?
    • Where do you go for inspiration?
    • What do you do to recharge?
    • Last meaningful book you read?
    • If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?
    • If you were gifted one million dollars, what would you do?

    Tomorrow, send a thank you email with two things you learned.