Episode 444 - Why Meet In Person?

Over the weekend, we had all sorts of community happenings at the holler homestead and it got me to thinking about meeting in person and how important that it. I will share some of these thoughts as well as stories of our first ever open house on today’s podcast.

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In December/January you said something in a podcast that made me think how foolish I’d been the past five years with credit cards, car and motorcycle loans. 

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Main topic of the Show: Why Meet In Person?

This past 18 months, meetings have increasingly been over computers and phones as folks have sought to avoid air travel and reduce exposure to the virus. As a result, kids know how to virtually attend school, adults who never could get their computers’ webcams to work suddenly know zoom and toms meetings are held virtually. It has become a matter of preference in many cases to just avoid getting together in person and handle meetings over web conferencing systems.

But is this the best way?

How many of you have been to that awkward ZOOM birthday party or wedding?

And how many have noticed an uptick in “weird” happenings where people kindo of lose their minds and hurt other people out and about in society?

Continued isolation is making us crazy and it is no surprise. We are herd animals. We crave finding people we can relate to, we can be comfortable with. This is why those “loner libertarians” get so excited when they can throw a liberty fest -- like Porcfest in New hampshire each June.

It is that feeling of well-being when you bother to get together in person.

That is why when people want to come visit the Holler Homestead, I try very hard to make it work. And this year, those requests were up tenfold, so we decided to do a little test this weekend: What if we have an open house day here and just tell folks, here are the hours, stop by. No big agenda. No big personality speakers. Just come hang out and we will likely be doing homesteady stuff.

Little did I know that there would be 68 chickens to process that day, derailing other demo concepts we had in mind.

And yet people came -- about 20 of you in fact. Including a surprise visit from John and Amanda Willis who can now confirm that my little country road is very very rural. That’s ok - it looked like their car could handle it.

Things we learned and enjoyed...

Someone will always show up an hour early - that’s why we started at 10am Many hands make light work of chickens Next time, I will hire someone to do the food and beverage so that Jenni and I are not pulled away from guests There are fun people who bring fun things: Seeds to trade, John’s Iced Tea, Angel and Kerry’s finger foods A more set Demo Schedule will happen next time so people can time their visit -- it gets hot here in the summer and not everyone wants to bake in the sun for 5 hours

But the biggest thing was thing: Y’all talked and talked and talked to each other. And then you talked some more. Even most of the introverts were just happy to be in person and talk about shared interests.

But why is meeting in person so important?

You build rapport and trust

(Willis story)

You can end up out of your space an on neutral ground

(Barb Story)

Words alone do not communications make. 55% nonverbal, 38% vocal, and 7% words only

(Rabbit Processing Workshop)

So if you know people who have self isolated for the past 18 months who are a little edgy when you talk to them -- remember this: They have not had one of the things that everyone needs - interaction. They have only had 45% communication with their peers when they do interact. And that means that the missing 55% takes you off balance. You start trying to build that into your narrative. You make up stuff in your head.

So as you look at your summer and fall plans and start feeling that tiny bit of anxiety that can come when you try to decide -- Do I take a weekend and go to Rogue Food Conference at Polyface in August, or Green Chili Day in September, or to my high school reunion, think of it not in terms of what you wont get done that weekend, or how tired people make you sometimes. 

Think about how far trust can get you? When you meet a few people with whom you can relate, with shared interests. How great it can be to think- I remember meeting that one lawyer guy at that conference and now, dadgummit I need a lawyer -- (Pete).

Things like that a great for the Pete’s of the world and the person seeking a Pete. At it all happens when you stand up, get out, and see people. Real people. In person.

It is impossible to measure how much progress people make after our gatherings here just because they met the right person -- but I can tell you there are 1 or 2 people who start or grow something as a result.

And if you ever get the opportunity to show your product or service in person to someone who reaches out -- go. Even if it is a slight pain in the ass. 

Because they will remember that you found their request important enough to give it your real attention and time. You set the first step of building rapport. And you are more likely to beat out the person who just “handled things” from afar.

Why meet in person? Why wouldn’t you?

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