Every Monday is Tip Day! This Week: Get Connected

Every Monday is Tip Day! Grab a cup of coffee and get over the Monday morning bump with tips, tools, and inspiration from Perch.

This Week: Get Connected

Last week’s tip focused on finding and connecting with creative Mavens – people who have made it their aim in life to be experts in their field. This week we’ll continue on the theme from The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and look at how Connectors can add value and increase our creativity.

People Who Know People

A few weeks ago my husband and I met a couple at a small restaurant in a very artsy, historic section of Little Rock. The couple introduced themselves to us by commenting on how delicious everything on the menu is and essentially adopted us for the rest of the evening. Everyone that walked in the door knew this couple, and our new friends were kind enough to introduce us to everyone they knew.

Connectors have a natural gift for knowing people and connecting people who should know each other. They’re extroverted and have a knack for making others feel at ease. Connectors are interested in everyone and therefore have wide, interconnected networks. Simply put, they’re people who know people.

Connectors and Creativity

According to Gladwell, “We rely on [Connectors] to give us access to worlds and opportunities to which we don’t belong” (p. 54). But creativity and ideas benefit from Connectors, as well. “The closer an idea or product comes to a Connector, the more power and opportunity it has” (Gladwell, p. 55). Consider the possibilities when an incredible idea or technique meets a person with the power to connect other people to that idea. Or, consider the impact of a Connector introducing new creative ventures to others. This social influence is how new trends are created.

Connectors can expand your creative capacity or worldview simply by introducing you to new experiences and ideas through their social connections. Through our new friends, we learned about all of the best restaurants and theatres, met a few local chefs, and were introduced to many other influential individuals in the cultural scene to whom we otherwise would likely have never had access. Through the genuine, good-willed interest our new friends took in us, we’ve now made new connections in a very creative cultural scene that we otherwise never would have.

Connecting with a Connector

So how do you connect with a Connector? Chances are, you already know one. Consider who it was that introduced you to your last opportunity. Who do you know that stays connected with the social scene, the music scene, or the art scene? If you’re new to an area, look for the people who know people, and introduce yourself. Don’t be shy – a Connector will befriend you simply because they consider everyone a friend. And get ready – based on my experience, your creativity will be challenged and your world will expand in the most unexpected, delightful ways.

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Ben

04/20 2009
Great overview of the idea of connectors Dee. But in the age of Google and Twitter, when I can search for anyone I want to meet, do connectors still matter?

[Reply]
Dee Wilcox

04/21 2009
Ben,

Thanks for your comment! It’s true that Google and Twitter allow us to make connections that would otherwise be unlikely. However, many of the important connections I’ve developed through Twitter were via other Connectors who have a lot of friends and a lot of influence based on their relationships, expertise, and reputation in their field.

You can tell when an individual wields influence in the social media world. For example, there are certain people I just *hope* re-tweet one of my links or tweet “currently reading” and link to one of my posts. When that happens, I get two to three times more pageviews than on a regular day. These Connectors have helped introduce me to more readers and more opportunities to share my passion for creativity than I otherwise might have been able to experience.

Thanks for stopping by and challenging me through your comment. Social media really is changing everything!

[Reply]
Seth

04/21 2009
Love your blog. Thank you!

[Reply]
Dee Wilcox

04/21 2009
Seth,

Thanks for stopping by! I jumped over to your blog – love your post on dealing with creative block. Couldn’t agree more!

Cheers,
Dee

[Reply]