I love that you have joined this conversation in such a positive and generous way. You have made some beautiful distinctions that shed light and wisdom on a topic that people typically leave behind in the wake of their rush to more ‘exciting’ things.

I look forward to our developing connection.

Best to you, Robin

Best to you, Robin

My rule of thumb is to only offer my opinion or ‘story’ if I’m asked for it.

Another thing to get good at is asking questions of other people in a way that doesn’t ‘interrogate’ them, but helps them to feel valued and respected.

Best to you, Mohammed.

Robin

Great to connect with you.

Best, Robin

Great to see you,

Robin

It’s a real pleasure to have you visit, read and contribute to this blog.

In answer to your first question, I believe that technology simply facilitates and amplifies our relationship intentions. Whether our purpose is to build strong and deep connections with a few people, or build shallower, more casual acquaintances with many, the on-line tools and technologies can foster both.

So no, I don’t feel that people who refrain from sharing online miss out, but I also believe that there are generational influences – and that the younger generations will lean more on the convenience and global reach of building relationships online. Their choice of quantity vs. quality is another thing.

Regarding my About page. Apart from saying that it is overdue for a serious rewrite, my use of terms like ‘you’ and ‘persuade’ are completely consistent with building ‘we-lationships’, not ‘me-lationships’.

Best to you,

Robin

I feel the future of building relationships online is important for some and not for others. It depends on what sort of conversation you want to be apart of and whether the listening is done offline or online.

My questions is do you feel the people who refrain from sharing online or listening online are potentially going to be less connected in strong relationship than the people like us who are online?

This is the first time I have a read a piece from you and found it thought provoking and interesting to consider. However just a small note, after looking at your ‘About’ page your product focuses a lot on the term ‘you’ and ‘persuade’. Do these terms have any contradiction to the recent post or are they aspects of these in the focus on ‘WE’ instead of ‘me’.

Thanks Samuel

I am new to your blog but having read two of your recents posts, I have become a fan. However, I don’t want you to have yet another fan (: – hence taking my time to savour your post, see how it applies to my own life and comment.

The way I see it-

The future of relationship-building on-line is bright and promising for all but especially for those who are here for genuine relationship building first, followed by promoting their products and not the other way round. Like Annabel commented, we need to give it time but instead of waiting for the other person, proactively nurture the relationship we want to see flourish.

Those who listen their way into relationships are very few but they are the ones who win people’s trust. Also they are the ones who pride in building more relatioships than fans. Unlike others who talk their way into relatioships, they donot have to prove to others about their self worth.

I can certainly do better at listening my way into relationships. Rather than appear to be listening and assume I understand, I can clarify what I thought I heard more often.

Thank you for a great post,

Rani

- How hard do I believe in what I’m writing or producing? If it’s too hard, it can turn into a dangerous weapon of making me blind for new (and maybe better) ideas. If it’s too light, it can make me under valuate my potential. I want to believe in myself so I keep getting better by producing more, valuing my own work, and OBSERVING other people’s comments and work so I don’t enclosure myself in a self-contained capsule that will lead me to failure.
It’s not easy to conclude that your idea is not good or that it’s not new or that you should work more on it.
I believe good quality comments are the ones that make you rethink your ideas and analyze whether you’re believing too much or too less in YOURSELF.

Your expression ‘institutionalized me-ship’ really nails it. What an important topic to unfold before getting too cute with short-term quick-fixes and knee-jerk reactions.

My thought about ‘the headwind of me-diocrity’ is probably more a gale-force wind in the context of your reference to such commercial and institutional inertia.

Looking forward very much to your narrative and ideas on how ‘we’ approach this uncertain, but exciting future as individuals collaboratively, and corporately.

Best to you,

Robin

Putting the emphasis on “we” is a good place to start. Overcoming what you’ve beautifully labeled “me-centric gravitational force” will be the hurdle. In my country we’ve institutionalized me-ship and perfected the art of self-aggrandizement throughout our political system. Big business seems to have followed suit. Could be because our institutions of higher education have indoctrinated us that the “goal of business is to increase shareholder wealth.” Encouraging folks to buy into contrary concepts like those Bob Burg espouses in The GoGiver will probably take a rewriting of our very DNA.

I especially like another term of yours: “blah-cast.”