If you want to know how much bubble gum is spit out on the planet, you can Google it. If you want to know about all of Oscar Wilde’s affairs or Houdini’s tricks, you can Google them.
I argue the ease of finding an answer on the digital devices we carry everywhere with us has not lead to an increase in knowledge. After all, you’re more prone to forget something you Googled early in the morning than you are to forget something you read in the newspaper that morning (so long as they were unrelated).
The real question of what’s important to know doesn’t have a Googleable answer. The fact is, if we can get the answer to nearly any question in .6983 seconds, do we really need to know anything?
I’m not going the direction you think I am with this post. Obviously there’s a lot of fundamental knowledge that’s necessary to know for daily tasks and unpredictable events. This knowledge is called common sense. Common sense isn’t important to know, it’s important to survive – a key distinction.
Nor are historical facts, trivia answers or the square root of 64 important to know. What’s important to know is people. Particularly, the people who are in your area (both vocational and geographical location). In this connection economy, your status is dependent on the number of positive connections you have. How do you get those positive connections? It’s not about knowing a little about a lot, it’s about knowing a lot about the people in your area.
Think of all the people who you see regularly but can’t spark a conversation with because you don’t know what to say. Or the people you run into and are forced to greet, but then can’t carry on with small talk. (The worst is when you’re walking in the same direction as the person and you’re both silent. It’s awkward. I write from experience.)
It’s a natural reaction of people to not want to connect with you if you don’t know much about them. The most vital LinkedIn connections are made when those looking to make a connection change the text of the standard connection request, making it personal. “Hey, I want to connect with you because I see that you…and I hold that same work value.” Job offers are readily made when candidates can relate to the employer. Donors largely donate to those they feel have been in a similar situation.
Marlowe, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin requested that I connect with her on LinkedIn. She used the standard prompt. I declined. Then by chance, we saw each other on campus while I was on my way to work. Instead of putting ear buds in and walking away, she greeted me and picked up conversation. Needless to say, I’ve gone back and accepted her request.
Just the other day while walking to work, I happened to cross paths with Jack Craver, journalist for The Cap Times. I knew enough about him to pick up a conversation right away and set an impression. Needless to say, we’ll be connecting more often.
The possible connections you can make day-to-day are much more likely to happen than the number of times you’ll be quizzed on trivial facts. Perhaps try to learn more about those around you and make those connections. No quiz-bowl trophy can compare to making a connection that rewards you with a job, a pair of free tickets or a friend. Trust me.
Stay Positive & It All Starts With A Hello
Photo credit
Shout out to Ellie, Maureen, Breann, Michelle, KP, Yehuda, Krista, John, and so many others both in and out of Madison, Wis. for all the connections you’ve helped me make.
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