The Day We Started Collecting People

I love it when that happens.

When two or three of us sit down to relax over lunch or tea-and-cakes at a country hotel…

And let our minds meander over anything and everything.

Business… families… hopes… whatever.

With Andy and Mark that might lead to boyish giggling over the silliest comment.

Until everything becomes funny.

Then, imperceptibly, we find ourselves immersed together in the deepest thoughts…
Until we’re sharing feelings which surprise us.

When business leads to friendship…
Something rather beautiful happens.

And once upon a time …
Friendship led to business.
Without anyone trying quite so hard.

But then, there’s the 2026 version.

Earlier this year… I found myself at one of those gatherings of business leaders.

Goodly folk. Clever minds. Lively chatter. Yummy food. Much to entertain.

Manly embraces. Warm hugs. A kiss or two.

Until I found myself being networked.

Found myself in conversation with more than one fellow… each, in turn, seemingly determined to gain my attention… talking animatedly… apparently intent on impressing me.

Being on the end of that was uncomfortable.
Ultimately, exhausting.

Even though listening-with-rapt-attention is what my professional role has taught me to do.

When I plonked myself down at my desk the next morning…
Rocking gently in my swivel chair…
I didn’t start hammering the keyboard.

No.
I sat back.
And I wondered.

I wondered when I had allowed myself to get sucked in.

When I too had chosen to become enticed by the desire to verbally impress each time I shook a new hand. Greeted a fresh face.

Become insistent on turning a gathering of beautiful people… into a networking opportunity.

Become glued to a screen… while holding my breath… and counting my Followers.

Offering advice… as long as it improved the movement in my pipeline.

Nudged hard by technology’s possibility…
We’re talking more furiously today about the value of relationships.

Yet, I wonder.

Have we quietly begun valuing people…
Glorious spirits in beautiful mortal temples…
According to what they might bring to us?

Have I?

And I think again of Andy and Mark.
Of the laughter.
The nonsense.

Those unexpected moments when three grown men find themselves sharing things they hadn’t intended to share.

None of us trying to impress.
None of us trying to gain.

Just three human beings…
Discovering a little more of the wonder in each other.

And I do wonder…

How many extraordinary friendships might be waiting for us…
Amongst the people we’ve been too busy trying to impress?