Face-to-face is always the best, and I suppose if you are starting a totally new venture in an area you know nothing about -- 6 months is pretty fast work. That said, I guess I always found myself in constant network mode. I love meeting and talking to people even (and maybe most especially) when I don't have a clue how any of it will turn out, or what advantage there may be. But whenever I start something like you are talking about, my first thought is who do I know that might just be interested. When I said "friends" we don't have to be lifelong friends -- just somebody whose path I crossed and there was a spark. When you want to start something up -- you don't need a lot of people, just some people who could really care about whatever. Make an invitation, see who responds, and if somebody does respond, ask them who they might think would be interested. And if you don't get a response, don't waste time and emotion. Just move on.
Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: Douglas D. Germann, Sr. [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 11:52 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Immigration OST Harrison-- << Doug -- you are working much too hard! Wow! Never expected you would say that of me! <grin> However, as I go back over what I did, it looks like I certainly did work too hard, at least when it came to 6 months of lunches. Unless you count as hard work meeting fascinating people and over a meal having conversations with them about what spirit is moving in them and in me. The other thing I would add to this conversation is that my experience is the most effective way people come is from being asked face to face, person to person, or sometimes, if the person asking is known intimately enough, over the phone. Press releases, fliers, and e-mail to a list do not get people to the meeting. So I am intrigued by your experience: is there some significant face to face time in the front end? How do you get the takers, that is, who are they? What distinguishes them? Are the mailing lists something other than casual acquaintances? Do you really just go for quantity? And yes, Harrison, it is possible I need a new friend! <grin> :-Doug. What wants to happen in your communities? * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
