How to Connect like you Give a Damn !

I luv, luv and luv connecting with people

It’s an epic passion, and it’s the core of my online crusade.

Every fresh new day is a field of infinite possibilities:

Someone from Vietnam sends you a mail, you get in touch with a blogger in Britain, one girl from Malaysia wants a guest post from you and an anonymous reader writes how much he hates your guts.

It’s fun, it’s diverse and vibrant – a life like a rollercoaster, intense emotions included.

Check this out

I went to a BBQ party on Saturday, and it was a joyride of human feelings. The sun was ruling the afternoon, the steaks were sizzling and people were talking to each other like brothers and sisters.

It was an international happening, and I soon entered conversations with Brits, Spaniards, Taiwanese and Koreans.

I made new friends, learned a lot about life and enjoyed getting that hot Korean’s girl number.

Connecting with other people is magic – you create a bond, just for this moment, and if there’s mutual respect and interest, you might even launch something amazing from there.

It’s Sunday morning right now, and my eyes want to drop down for good, but my passion for life wants to share some tips, and I’m not gonna stop it.

How to connect like an awesome human being, the Mars Dorian way:

• OFFline – Have a reason for approaching. If you come up and just start a conversation with a stranger, it can easily cause bewilderment. He might think : Who the heck are you and what the hell do you want ? By giving a reason, no matter how dumb, you break the ice.
• ONline: Start any virgin tweet or message with a compliment. Every connection with a new blogger starts with a first message, make sure it’s positive ! Stuff like: Hey Mars, your blog is frickin’ creative OR hey Mars, I love burned Sushi too !

You know how I approach girls ?

Hey you, I just saw you standing there, and that’s why I came over. Yep, it really is THAT cheap.

• OFFLine - Stretch that mouth from ear to ear. A genuine smile is supposedly the shortest distance between two humans, and I vote for that. You can probably stop reading this article by only implementing this advice.
• ONline: Use one smiley- or emoticon to sun-light your message, when appropriate that is. You know what I mean :)

• ONline: Be present like a Jedi. This one is sooo essential, it should be burned on your forehead. If you talk or chat with someone, be fully, and I mean FULLY there. Every cell of your brain must be focused on the dialog. Blend everything out that disturbs your speaking stream. See you eyes reflect in your partner’s eyes.
• Offline: Forget about multitasking – it’s nonsense. Concentrate on writing that message or making that comment – and only focus on that for the time being. It adds so much more quality !

• Say Thank you. I know this one is pretty darn simple, I know it has been said a gazillion times before, but why the heck do you keep forgetting it ?? If someone makes the effort to contact you, gives you a tip, retweets your stuff or shares a genuine conversation with you, why not thank him/her !! One small step for you, one big step for global feel-togetherness.

• ALways leave on a high. This one works magically for talking. You can screw up in the beginning and in the middle, but make sure you leave that person on an emotional high. It might be the way how you say goodbye, or how you thank the person for the conversation. Be like a Hollywood movie – make it a Happy End !

• Remember their name and USE it frequently. Humans love their names more than their children, and knowing that will ignite more rapport than a Jedi mind trick ! (this one is harder than it seems, especially if you talk to Asians – I’m sorry, Son Hae-seong and Ahn Byeong-Ki ,eh, how do you spell that again ? Tip: If that encounter is very important to you, make it an effort to write the name down – it’s soooooooooo worth it !

• Have fun. I repeat: have F-U-N. If you don’t enjoy the conversation, drop it and move on. Nobody benefits from useless and uninspiring small-talk. You only have so many breaths left, make sure you flavor them with a passionate voice.

There are probably a trillion tactics on how to connect more efficiently, but for today, just bear this in mind:

Every single person on this planet is JUST a click away.

Hit that button and start a dialogue.

Who knows where it can take you.

Start connecting, and enjoy the ride.

What do you think ?

And please retweet and share the message !