Networks from Nothing

I felt this was going to start as a personal journal entry, but I felt it was more important to be public. I have read this amazing book on power (thank you Mr. Robert Greene) and felt disappointed and/or detatched by the fact that all of the work was theoretical. For the first time, I have applied those rules since reading. I am working through my move in for my freshman year of college. On my way home from a networking event, I entered into the bottom floor of my hall. There was a door open with two girls sitting in on their computers. I chose to step in and chat them up as any first year student would. After a while, I asked them if they wanted to do a snake. A snake is a term that I coined (I guess lol) but I am sure it happens very often. So we ended up walking down the entire first floor stopping at whoever door was open. It started with each stop being 5 or 10 mins. It very very quickly grew to more and more people. When others heard the ruckus and the movement and the chatter and the laughter, others felt comfortable joining. It made it much easier for it to grow naturally. Others saw how many people were doing it and the different social connections that were possible. It grew to at least 75 people or so. I do not even know. We invested 15 mins in the first group, and that turned into not having enough time to stop and chat with others. I would knock on an open door and say, “grab your shoes and your mask, there is a snake”. As I did this, I ended up falling more and more behind before I lost them completely. At that moment I realized my work was done. Someone else will figure out the next move. Why is it my job to say? I am sure someone had a smarter idea.

It is hardest to get the first of a group to commit to cause. It gets easier after. Others can grow a directly. It is social compound interest or network effects. Each member that joined is stronger than who was there before.

Working with bigger numbers is easier than working with smaller. Details matter less.

Could someone here become friends for life after meeting in this social scene? Why is it one person’s job to determine the pathway for others: especially when there is uncertainty ahead. Someone’s idea of how to manage a group of 30 people must be better than mine. It is just the law of large numbers. There will always be someone stronger faster and smarter than the leader. If not at all times, at least for a few moments. Let that voice be heard and build on it. That is how networks are built from nothing. That is how someone will find a best friend, a lover, an enemy.

Sorry for the random jumping around. Remember, I am a freshman.

-Cameron Goldman.