Usually the best things that happen in my life and business are unexpected. These unexpected things are called serendipity. Whether it’s connecting with someone whom under normal circumstances I would never meet, to learning a new technique from a world far removed from my own, I’m convinced serendipity fuels breakthroughs.
If you live in the same place and constantly go to the same spots you start to experience less and less serendipity. Eventually that pattern takes the form of what most people call a rut. A lack of serendipitous happenings in your world means your odds of a breakthrough in life and business decrease, which is why it’s important to recognize and create opportunities for the unexpected.
There are ways to introduce serendipity. Starting with an open mind is a must, aside from that the number one way for me to introduce serendipity has always been travel that’s outside of my comfort zone. The number two way has always been a dedication to maintaining a large variety of interests. If you’re a one hit wonder and have one all consuming interest whether it’s business, work or technology you’re missing out on serendipity that could lead to breakthroughs. Not to mention you’re probably a dull person.
Happy Tweeting Accidents
More and more though, I’m finding myself in real world unexpected situations that were the result of just sharing what I’m doing and connecting with people on Twitter. From a recent trip to Toronto where I met other iDevice developers who it seemed like I’ve known for ten years, to news articles written by reporters who follow me on Twitter, to a computer cable borrowed from a stranger, to a bar owner in a strange city who happened to be listening to my tweets and invited me in for a free drink, the force that made these situations possible has been Twitter.
Using Twitter to Influence Serendipity
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about how you might better use Twitter to influence and increase the number of serendipitous opportunities you unlock. I have some ideas.
1. Be the world’s help desk. Well sort of. Listen and consistently questions.
2. Share the mundane. I’m constantly amazed by the power of the seemingly mundane and it’s humanizing power.
3. Ask and you shall receive. Just like it sounds. You would be shocked at the power of a question mark..??
4. Show up. It’s harder to experience serendipity while sitting on your butt.
5. Constantly connect others. Often it isn’t about you.
Any other ideas out there? How has Twitter powered the unexpected for you? Are you doing anything to create serendipity?
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Photos by Flickr/ Left Wing Lucy
Twitter is definitly made for this. I’m sure you would agree that much of facebook works just like it too.
Yesterday I asked for an upright piano for my family for free. And we had a guy in less than an hour.
It’s not that I don’t trust craigslist, which anymore, who knows. but I’ll give my friends and followers first dibs on meeting any needs. Helping someone and asking for help is definitely a bonding exercise in our world today.
I agree in some ways. You may not know some of your Facebook “friends” and what they’re up to as much and it definitely is a better facilitator where trust is a factor.
Twitter on the other hand has the ability to connect you with a total stranger. For me what helps build up some trust on Twitter is if I’m following people in domains (iphone dev, gaming, food, etc..) and we end up connecting in the real-world I feel like I sort of know them.