Let’s Talk (Like, Actually Talk)

The future of connection? It just might look a little old school.

I grew up on the early internet. AOL chat rooms. Direct messages. MySpace pages with music blasting the second someone landed on my profile. I spent hours picking the perfect song, choosing the right photos and customizing every detail. It was fun because it felt like a new way to express myself and connect with others.

Social media is in incredible tool that creates opportunities for us to meet people around the world and share ideas instantly. I’ve befriended amazing people, built a personal brand, stayed in touch with friends and shared my work far beyond my zip code. 

But just like any tool, it can be misused. Early on, I had my reservations about it. When Facebook opened up to the general public, I hesitated to join. I was finishing my master’s in Interpersonal Communication, and foresaw a future with less talking and more posting. A life with more connection but less connectedness.

Fast forward to now, and I’m seeing the effects of all of this play out in real time.

As a communication coach, I’ve seen an uptick in anxiety and imposter syndrome. People are more self-critical and hesitant to speak up than ever before, comparing themselves to others they follow and feeling inferior to perfectly curated online personas.

And it’s not just me noticing this increase. It’s something being echoed in pop culture, too.

Last week, I watched The Electric State on Netflix. It’s a dystopian film about our growing dependence on technology and how it quietly disconnects us. One concept that stood out was quantum entanglement—the idea that two particles can become so connected they share the same fate, no matter how far apart they are.

Humans are like that too. Every time we meet, share space or have a real conversation, we become entangled, leaving imprints on one another. 

Nichole Malkiel, one of our Drop The Mic Night speakers, shared this exact idea in her talk, Quantum Connection (watch it below). So when it came up in the film, I practically jumped off the couch.

That kind of deep connection doesn’t happen through a double-tap or comment. It happens in person. It happens when we have meaningful conversations and share our stories with one another. It happens when shake hands with someone or look them in the eyes.

So if you’re playing the comparison game, feeling disconnected, anxious, overwhelmed or just plain not enough, take a tech break. Set limits around scroll time. Get out and talk to someone face to face. Shake a hand, share a story over coffee and be present.

When you do, you'll make deep, quantum connections.

That’s why we’re inviting you to our Open House on May 14th. Stop in to say hi, have a conversation over a cup of coffee or tea and connect with us IRL. Details below. 👇 

I'd love to see you there!

Founder, SPEAC Success

Public Speaking & Authenticity Coach