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March 25, 2007

Change the World: The Power of Conversation

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:08 am

Hey Lisa and Doc, How Can We Change the World?

Change the World!

In the last two days, two people I respect, Doc Searls and Lisa Gates, have written about a subject we all care about — People talking to people. — conversations and relationships.

Can you have a meaningful conversation when only one person is talking?

Isn’t every conversation a relationship?

Conversations and Relationships

Words by Doc Searls and Lisa Gates

These were the kinds of conversations people have been having since they started to talk. Social. Based on intersecting interests. Open to many resolutions. Essentially unpredictable. Spoken from the center of the self. “Markets were conversations” doesn¹t mean “markets were noisy.” It means markets were places where people met to see and talk about each other¹s work.

Conversation is a profound act of humanity. So once were markets.

For businesses that require no live communication with customers in the course of everyday work, markets are conversations means simply that the company still shouldn’t isolate itself either from talk within their marketplace or from talk with customers when the need arises. In other words, it should still be ready to Get Real when the time comes for real conversation. –Doc Searls

Doc Searls and Robert Scoble and Shel Israel told us that markets are conversations. So we all started blogging. Then, Seth Godin told us to be remarkable. So we all started showing up with a unique, inspired footprint. Along came Liz Strauss who told us that it’s all about relationships and relationship blogging. So we all started talking, showing up for each other, and supporting each other’s remarkable, outstanding work.

Remarkable, outstanding, conversations happen inside [TADAAA] RELATIONSHIPS! . . . . What you get from going, participating is–like life–entirely up to you and what you put into it. –Lisa Gates

Conversation IS profoundly human. Boy, Doc, do I agree.

It’s that profoundly human conversation that starts a relationship.

A conversation is potential energy — if I talk to you, you might listen and talk back to me.

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!.

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.

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10 Comments to “Change the World: The Power of Conversation”

  1. March 25th, 2007 at 9:56 am
    Lisa said

    Liz, seeing those words on your site today makes me think of something. It’s only tangentially related, but it has change-the world-consequences.

    If conversation is a profound act of humanity, who are you NOT in conversation with? Who is missing in your life, someone you have a broken link with?

    Maybe because it’s a dopey lazy Sunday, but this post makes me want to call my sister. We are OUT with each other.

    This is how you change the world too. Tiny, profound acts of connection and completion. Every time I’ve cleared the path for conversation, something profound has happened.

    Anyone care to join me in clearing the path with someone you love?

    L

  2. March 25th, 2007 at 10:18 am
    ME Strauss said

    Wow! Lisa!
    Yes. I love how every time we have a conversation you extend by a step. THAT’s why I so want you at SOBCon. You are the attendee that rounds out the model.

    People read my blog post. Hear you respond. You’re so right

    If that changes world, then what does that mean? If Lisa is calling her sister, what should I be thinking about?

    How can I make this thought bigger, deeper, broader, more meaningful, Louder, more powerful, or just support it so that it stays resonanting?

  3. March 25th, 2007 at 11:14 am
    GP said

    Greetings where it’s spring today but winter threatens an eminent (albeit brief)return later this week

    but you both gave me food for thought… about the ripple effect and how conversation can effect people and events, not (for)seen… for those of us who think they dont make a difference (GP looking in mirror!) :)

    GP in Montana

  4. March 25th, 2007 at 11:17 am
    ME Strauss said

    Thinking. Thinking is a very good thing. It makes us younger, smarter, more confident, more forgiving, more generous, more patience, and a whole lot less stressed.

    Thank you, GP, for inpsiring that thought!

  5. March 25th, 2007 at 11:21 am
    Ellen Weber said

    What an interesting way to look at blog evolution - and so accurate, Liz! Thanks. It seems to me that we’re at a point where the content and interactions of blogs needs to become sustainable support for bloggers. What do you think could make that happen, so that the most talented - like you folks - will remain with us and help us to grow in daily doses?

  6. March 25th, 2007 at 11:24 am
    ME Strauss said

    Ellen.
    I have a beautiful idea. I’m working on it. :)

  7. March 25th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
    Ellen Weber said

    No wonder curiosity genually triggers interest for answers in the human brain:-) I’ll be first in line to hear your head and heart on this one:-)Liz. You have us again at the edge of chairs!

  8. March 25th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Ellen,
    You will be part of it. We all will. It is a wonder! I’m so smiling. Read my email. ;)

  9. March 25th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
    GP said

    ah.. the suspense is killing me :) but seriously, methinks those in the blogosphere that ‘ll survive are the ones that provide stuff content, info, etc that’s wanted and needed.

    BTW, Liz… did you get on that bicycle this weekend?

    GP in Montana who got on both of her high horses this weekend. what a blessing :)

  10. March 25th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi GP,
    Never let the suspense get to you . . . sunshine is soooo much better.

    I don’t have a bike, but the windows were wide open and I was smiling.

    On your high horses — I like that! :)

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