How do you connect with people who seem out of reach?

After writing the post last week, I have gotten inquiries about how a person can begin being seen and making their presence known. I get asked this question regularly, as I have connected with beautiful people from around the world. With all of them, we started as strangers; through developing the courage to express our thoughts, we built a connection.

Every journey begins somewhere. Relationships start with “hello.”

The act of reaching out and expressing the greeting is powerful, as you never know the conversation that will flow from it. The context of where this personal interaction happens doesn’t matter; what does matter, however, is that the exchange has begun.

Who would you like to start a conversation with?

Even though “hello” is a small word, it can take a lot of effort and courage to express. Trust me, I know.  I used to get so nervous when I had to speak with strangers. I’d try to get out of it if I could. I cared too much about what they thought.  So I held myself back. To be honest, I still get a bit nervous about approaching a few people, but I persevere.

To be seen, you need to start somewhere. Wouldn’t you rather try, than regret that you didn’t say anything when you had the chance? Plus, you wouldn’t be the only one who feels nervous, others go through that too.  

Since I am standing tall and being seen, I’d like to invite you to take part in a fun activity I began recently. I have decided to make a list of all the people and organizations that I envision to be part of my network.  I will share my list later in the week and I will keep adding to it. If you are looking to grow your network and meet new people, I would love for you to join me.  Write your own list and then take action by starting conversations with the persons/organizations on your list. 

I’m encouraging you to THINK BIG.  Let’s go be seen by branching out, being creative, and thinking outside the box.  We can all support each other along the way!

Who you SHOULD include on your list:

• Friends who you’ve been out of touch with but you want to reconnect with on a deeper level.
• Individuals who have inspired you on your journey.
• Organizations that you want to collaborate with.
• Your mentors – initiate the conversation by seeking their guidance and support. 
• Comment on other people’s blogs or send them an email/tweet/Facebook message.
• People/organizations you’d like to start a conversation with.

The point of the list is: take action by reaching out to 5-10 people on the list and say “hello.” It’s as simple as that.

Here’s to the start of making our presence known.  Now, Stand Tall & Speak from the Heart. GO BE SEEN!

Thank you for reading and your presence at this beach retreat. You Rock! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below.

See you at the beach!