The Power of Loose Social Networks

I'm weak on woo, so I'm reading The Art of Woo to up my game. But I came across an interesting fact that explains a phenomenon I experienced while raising money for church planting and searching for a job. That is, you're more likely to get more help from loose social connections than close friends.

I barely knew Brad Lomenick when he called me to talk about working for Catalyst. And all of my job hunting calls to good friends turned up nothing.

While fundraising for RCC, I got ignored by my good friends, while mere acquaintances gave the really big donations.

All of this to say... As of this moment, I am hereby distancing myself from all good friends. =)

Comments

[Dawn Nicole Baldwin]

Makes total sense. Seems good friends are hesitant b/c the relationship may be at stake. Maybe too much is at risk should things go south?

Counter intuative, yes, but still rings true.

[gail]

it's called the strength of weak ties. classic sociology by granovetter. google it and read the old school paper. it's worth it.

[Ted]

Ordered the book this afternoon.

Also just finished the book: YES! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive. (Guy Kawasaki kept recommending it, so I gave in and bought it!)

[Terrace Crawford]

Ben, what you don't know about me is that I hate raising money but I have the 'woo' factor. In fact, I was tagged as a woo'er when I took the StrengthFinder 2.0 study. Surprising at the time but I can see it clearly now.

[slowtraincoming]

Dude, thanks for the inspiration. I am starting a rock band and calling it The Woo Fighters! We will rock! When we hit it big I will give you the credit!

[rob@watersedgechurch.net]

This is the same thing with my blog. My friends could care less about it. Total strangers are addicted to it.

[Bob Bickford]

Ben-great insights, never thought about it but you're dead on-thanks for expanding my view more and more.

[Ben Arment]

terrace, you are definitely big on woo. I've never seen a bloggers lunch come together so easily as when you organized one at whiteboard.

interesting!

[David Mills]

I wonder if we miss how much people appreciate just getting our attention, loose connections sometimes are people who are in circles we haven't paid much attention to, and they want and need our encouragement, and even more want to be connected to work that has real meaning.