A lot of my business conversations are convened around a coffee table at my neighborhood Panera. I’ve always said, that when I’m in public – I’m accessible, otherwise I’d meet in private.
On any given day, I know at least one person at several tables. As folks I know (or simply acquainted with) walk in Panera, I give them a wave or nod – often waving them over for a quick introduction. They go about their conversation, I go about mine. Maybe we’ll gather again in a few minutes.
I don’t hear everything they say. I don’t want to. If I heard every sentence from every table that sits someone I know …
I’m confident if they say something really good, they’ll repeat it to me (or I’ll hear it from someone else).
I have a list of folks I follow as much as possible (and you can too, here’s a starter list), but there is no way I can catch every thing they say. I’d never get to Panera – or to bed. And if they something really good, someone will retweet it.
Give Yourself Permission to Not Listen (to every word)
