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    About Bird's Eye View

    • Hello…

      From global dialogues engaging thousands, to tete-a tetes, to everything in between, I’ve got the greatest gig in the world: I get paid to engage the world’s greatest business and thought leaders in conversation. Significant conversation. I do a lot of other stuff, too, but basically I’m obsessed with conversation.

      I’ve been asked to share my views on the power of conversation—especially as it’s exemplified in word of mouth marketing techniques. My preference is the gold standard of conversation” the kind of face to face, one-on-one dialogue that’s getting increasingly rare.

      If you think about it, face to face conversation is the new luxury.

      It’s so easy to “communicate” through technology-assisted means that some of us have trouble remembering the last truly fascinating, life-changing conversation we’ve had.

      So there’s something a bit weird about my writing a blog about the most memorable conversations I’ve had. But I’m doing it to stir your appetite for significant conversation. We’ll share some of the remarkable conversations I’ve been privileged to have with people all over the world. Some are extraordinary leaders in business and public life; others just ordinary folks with extraordinary things to say. And I’ll throw in some conversational tips along the way, as well as comments from other people on the subject of talk, conversation…even just plain gab.

      Whichever way you like it, I hope you’ll find inspiration here to go off and have a scintillating conversation of your own.

      I’ll give you recommendations for initiating meaningful conversation as well as for places and activities that are worth talking about. Let me know what you find especially provocative or fascinating or enlightening or all the above. And, of course, tell me if any of this is wrong-headed, stupid, arbitrary or, worst of all, boring.

    Age of Conversation

    « GUEST POST: More on Gun Control Talk | Main | A reason To Smile About Our Community Of Man »

    December 19, 2012

    SantaCon in New York City

    About a week ago, my friend Monique Leahy, the legal wizard who authors books for legal and medical practitioners, told me about SantaCon.  She said she and friends had watched the SantaCon craziness from a restaurant last year, as revelers dressed in Santa Claus costumes (with an occasional elf and reindeer thrown in the mix) streamed past the window. 

    Santa16n-2-web

    I forgot about that conversation until last Saturday as my husband and I were driving in Midtown Manhattan and found ourselves in a sea of Santas, clearly into about the fourth or fifth hour of a pub crawl.  It appeared to be fueled by a good deal of alcohol but we didn't see any rowdiness or outrageous behavior.  Funny thing to look into the windows of a bar and see it filled with hundreds of Santas hoisting a beer.

    I'm told by one source that the SantaCon tradition, which is now global (!) started in Copenhagen decades ago.  Not sure if that is true, but New York has adopted the tradition with enthusiasm.

    Santacon

    It struck me as unusual that the shenanigans take place in daytime.  No sporting event involved, unless you include the classic ritual of elbow-bending at a bar a sport.  Someone decided it makes good sense to begin drinking at 10 AM in the morning, in a Santa Claus costume, no less, and others have followed along.

    Well, there are lots of ways to display the Christmas spirit.  Except that in this case, we're talking spirits.

     

    Posted at 02:32 PM |

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    About Susan W. Bird

    • Author of I is for Intercourse: The ABC's of Conversation, Susan Bird is the visionary behind Wf360, and a sought-after speaker around the world for her views on leadership, the strategic importance of conversation, entrepreneurship, and the role of women business leaders.

      Susan's provocative addresses are geared toward helping people and organizations use conversation strategically to achieve no less than the transformation of their businesses, their careers, and the world. Learn more about Susan

    Look Who's Talking

    • "It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much." - Yogi Berra

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