I want to draw your portrait (why listening isn't enough)

Hey ,

If you've got 15 minutes today, I'd love to draw you. Sign up link below.

I think listening is cool. Accurately rated. Actually, underrated.

But getting a group of people to sit around and listen is rare and sometimes underwhelming. I would know, I do this.

There are workshops were people listen while building skills. Great.

There are listening circles and empathy groups. Great, for some. Not for me.

Listening itself is icing on the cake of the human experience. It gives you access to more connection, more empathy, more insight, more fun, more better.

But I find it lacking as a standalone activity... listening tables exempted. Those are epic.

Here's what I've found:

Activities and common ground are better than gathering for the sake of it.

I love my weekly filmmakers creative night. (Fridays in Santa Monica: If you're in LA... come!?) I love my Sunday/Tuesday Ultimate Frisbees. I love Friday Shabbat with family and friends. I loved my Friday morning pre-work writing group. Maybe I'll do another one if we can get 8 people together.

Activities with built in common interest rock. Being a good communicator makes all those things better, but I find it challenging to think I'd want to be part of a weekly listening group, especially if it's online.

Am I wrong?

Exceptions exist

Hanging out with friends doesn't need an agenda. The common ground is that you're friends, that something fun will probably happen.

Even then, most friendships start from common interests.

I want to draw you

My listening table videos have gotten a bit stale to me. I feel like there's a storytelling method that excites me more and I'm not sure what it is, but I'm going to find it.

Having conversations while I draw a portrait of you will be a fun experience. Also will help me learn how to do better portraits, which I'd like to try to bring to the listening table.

Click to sign up.

Bonus: You can draw me, too.

This is going to be just available on Thursday, May 9th. Unless all the slots fill up. Then we can do another later.

Class: Starting in June, I'm launching a two-month once-a-week communication skills class designed to help people develop confidence in developing relationships with or without common ground.

This includes learning tips and tricks from over 1000 listening table conversations that have totally changed my confidence, capacity, and perspective on life. Reply to this email with the word 'class' if you'd like to learn more.

- Orly

P.S. New Listening Table opened up in Costa Rica. Woo!

P.P.S. I'm not a great artist, but I won't be a bad artist for too much longer.

P.P.P.S. As I develop my email pattern, I'll find my voice by trying different things out. This email style is borrowed from Jefferson Fisher.