Making Connections in Enemy Territory
Not a fan of cocktail parties / social events / meetups? Bad at networking? Good news.
Whether it's finding love, friends, or a collaborator, I now always use the same technique, and it has transformed how I deal with groups:
Start by talking to the first person next to you.
Right away. Whoever it is. About anything.
Don't scan the room for the ideal conversation partner. Don't filter by attraction or compatibility. Don't wait for a particular topic or common interests.
Dive into the conversation, then naturally continue with the "next first person" – if they haven't already joined the conversation. And so on.
Before you know it, the person you were looking for (sometimes unconsciously) will be right beside you. And you won't have to figure out what to say because, when you realize it's them, you'll already be in the middle of a conversation.
You're welcome.