Last week I travelled to the northeast to meet some folks in our sensor business. It was my first visit to their site, just outside of Boston, for that we’ve engaged over email, telepresence and conference calls over the last year and it was time to do a whiteboard session. There just is no substitute for being in person to do that.
At any rate, my host Chandra and I ran into Diana in the hallways and she was looking for someone to help setup a DVD player in the boardroom so they can start a daily lunch workout class. We jumped like men typically do when there is a problem that needs fixing…and figured it out. After while we were chatting, Diana and I were talking and I was focusing on her – wanting to know her story and draw out of her what she’s doing. I was trying to find synergies where we can connect and loved hearing her story. If you remember this ‘focus’ element is the 2nd part of the passion formula (Energy + Focus + DoSay = Passion)
Diana has an amazing story – growing up in Transylvania and immigrating to the US. We had an instant ‘topical’ connection for that one of my first engineering mentors was from Transylvania. At any rate, we got talking about how many from that region also reside in Canada and she mentioned that some of her good friends went to the US while others went to Canada. I mentioned that I was born in Canada and we discovered that one of her friends was in fact living in the city where I grew up – Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada. I sat there amazed that she in fact visited there a couple of years ago and found it funny how she gets a particular brand of shoe when she’s there (don’t ask I forgot the shoe brand!) She mentioned that her friend was a pharmacist and I mentioned that maybe my mom knew her for that she spent 35 years in nursing and the fields were somewhat connected…
Over the weekend I was talking with my mother and my mind blew up for that Diana’s friend is working with someone my mother knows.
So a serendipitous connection was made in Boston that spans the globe that resulted in a state of awe and a much deeper connection. Who knows – Diana and I might see each other the next time I visit family for that she’s going to let me know when she’s visiting her friend next.
I just had to share this story because it’s a good example of the passion formula focus element at work. This connection wouldn’t have been made if I just talked about what I was doing there…by focusing in on others and their stories, their interests, their work – it opened up a deep connection. I’m still at awe on how small the world is.
it’s a small world. the right focus when engaging others is key. be passionate – you never know what kind of connections you’ll open up.
catch you next time!
— Kyle
The Passion Formula 
Nice !!!