I received an intriguing invitation to "connect" today. Best described, I was asked to connect with a "Thing," Not a person. This thing had a relatively normal first name, but then a very gimmicky "phrase" as a last name.
Curious, I looked the person up at LinkedIn. He went by the same name. I went to his website, likewise, he identified himself the same way. I had no sense of the person I was connecting with. I felt I was connecting with a "phrase."
I started thinking, how do I address this person? "Mr. 'Phrase,'" I thought, would his wife be "Mrs. 'Phrase,'" are there a bunch of little "Phrases" running around at home. If they are little "Phrases," perhaps it would be more appropriate to address them as "Words."
I wonder what this person was trying to achieve? I really like to get to know people. I think relationships are about people-though I am fond of my bicycle-I spent a lot of time riding it.
I've noticed a lot of this recently. People tend to be referring to themselves as inanimate objects, perhaps a collection of adjectives and verbs, a provocative phrase. Is that supposed to be who they are, what they value, what they stand for?
I don't know if this is a trend is a misguided attempt at personal branding. But I don't get it. I still believe in connecting with people, getting to know them. I believe in looking people in the eye, when I have the chance. I believe in shaking hands-both as a form of greeting and as a form of agreement. I believe in talking to people, hearing their voices. I believe in social networking, but with people. In social networking, I am constantly amazed at how, over time, one can really get a sense of an individual.
Many of my most valued relationships are with people I initially met through social networking. I've established a new business with my friend Anthony Iannarino, I first met him when I disagreed with him in a blog post. We've become close friends and business partners. I can name dozens of others-friends, business partners, professional colleagues, customers, and clients who I've first met through social networking.
Social networking was the means by which we were introduced. But I know each of them as people-who they are, where they've come from, what their dreams and goals are, what they value. Maybe that's old fashioned, but people are important.
Am I missing something?
While you consider this, I have a meeting with Mr. Specialized Roubaix. We're off for an hour of hill climbing. Guess I'll ask him how the family of little bikes are doing.
Reminder: Join us on Friday, February 11 at 1:00 EST for Future Selling Institute's Office Hours. We will be discussing Coaching Opportunities and the Pipeline! It's open to everyone, but you have to register to make sure you have a slot to attend.