endlesswormhole

Seth Godin's brings this up in a blog post and it struck a chord with me.

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Imagine yourself preparing to go to a "cocktail party". For some this might increase one's anxiety knowing you'll be in a social scene and will need to spark or join conversations with strangers. Others might look forward to the open and loose environment and be excited about meeting new people and grabbing a drink.

In contrast the 'club meeting' is comfortable, familiar and your status in the group is pretty well entrenched. There are the leaders, contributors, nay-sayers, followers, etc. A lot of people like this familiarity and do well, plus you get a few sodas here, ice if you are lucky.

Cocktail Parties Are for Closers
My take is cocktail parties takes preparation, time and energy to be successful. I find that 70% of the great conversations I get in with people at events are outside the actual event subject matter topic. It's current events, music, books, sports, celebrities, TV shows, movies, family stories, etc.

Years ago I discovered a magazine (yes an actual physical object that can be sent to you through the mail) that plugged me into being comfortable at any cocktail party. It is The Week magazine. It's a weekly publication that covers everything I need to know about to have a relevant and meaningful conversation: the best columns, snippets of news from around the world, people, gossip, cartoons, health and science, arts, books, stage, music, film, leisure, travel, properties, consumer, obits and business.

I took to reading The Week like it was my job. My wife and I actually fight over it when it arrives. Makes for some funny moments.

Club Meetings are a Bore
Put that in contrast to club meetings that I participate in, and to be honest, I can show up, sit in the back of the room, check my email, talk to one person just to have an alibi that I was there and no one cares. The fact that I showed up counts (and is the requirement to stay in the club), but my participation level didn't require me to prepare and be sharp.

Jack and Coke Please
So as usual I agree with Seth. The web is like a cocktail party. You never know with whom you might strike a conversation with or what topics might resonate with you. So being prepared, well read and having a good understanding of relevant, current topics will go a long way to your enjoyment of the web.

Now, if I could only get someone to buy me a Jack and Coke and talk about Pearl Jam, The John Adams HBO Series, The Rockies, heliskiing and biodiesel - that would make a perfect night.

Tags: social media seth godin cocktail parties