Why don’t you come over to our informal get together tomorrow?
Anand happened to ask me when I met him.
I have known Anand for a few months. I had met him at two different HR events in 2023.
Anand wanted me to join a friendly get together on Saturday as his guest. I had some family engagements on Saturday afternoon.
I accepted the invite but told him I might get late.
Anand again sent me a message on Saturday noon, extending an (in)formal invite to the event. I communicated over a message that I was running late and may have to skip.
The next moment I received his call.
This was not a professional event but Anand still insisted. I could feel the friendly push in his voice. I knew I had to make it.
I was somehow able to reach half way through the event. The energy in the hall was unimaginable.
There were people mostly in their late 30s and 40s and I had never seen a more enthusiastic crowd as they played a collaborative game.
I only saw one familiar face – Anand!
He introduced me to a few of his HR friends. Surprisingly two of them had subscribed to my weekly letters and thanked me for sharing a story each week. Wow, that made my day 🙂
It turned out to be a fantastic event for me.
I was glad I made it.
I was wondering on how a professional acquaintance had pushed me to attend an event and ensured I met a few right people.
He had nothing to gain in this entire process.
I thanked him for his gesture through a message.
I received his reply –
“I am being selfish as I want to be in the company of genuine people.
I see an authentic personality in you and that’s about it.
Period :)”
I knew I had found a new friend in Anand!
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