Connection Requested started when I was inspired by the weirdness I observed with LinkedIn connections. I’m talking about those LinkedIn connections that are requested by people whom I don’t know and who generally don’t make any other connection beyond the request. So I thought I’d create a podcast to demonstrate how storytelling, just basic old storytelling, is how we can connect with almost anyone.

Initially, I think the Connection Requested podcast was also partly to do with me wanting to connect to others. Often in my life, I haven’t felt “a part of.” I’ve felt different, and even excluded. I don’t hate it though. Often I value my independence and cherish my time alone. I’ve always had the wrong accent; English when growing up in Scotland and Scottish from the moment I left Scotland. Sometimes having the wrong accent is great as you stand out, and sometimes it’s awful for exactly the same reason.

But what if Connection Requested looked wider and focused on trying to understand and make sense of human connection more generally?

The world seems so fragmented and yet human DNA is approximately 99.6% identical. For all the racism and sexism (and all the other isms) we are 99.6% the same. So as we are all basically the same physically, we must have some work to do on our hearts and our minds.

I know that sounds all well and good until the first person you meet isn’t on the same book, never mind the same page. I’m not saying that horrible words, traumatic actions, or thoughtless behaviors are in any way ok. I just think that in a lot of situations, I’ll learn more if I ask some questions and we swap some personal stories of our perspectives. Even if nothing else changes, I’ll have learned something.

Even if all I learned was that there’s something I really don’t understand! 😀

There’s a lot I don’t know. A lot that I wish I’d learned decades ago.

What if I continue Connection Requested as a request for all of us to learn how to connect a little more often, with a little more curiosity, and a little less skepticism?

I hope you connect with someone today,

Mark

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.connectionrequested.com

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