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“What’s new?”

So I’ve been thinking about a conversation I had recently, and it’s a conversation I’m shamed to admit that I’ve had a few hundred times before. It went a little something like this…

“Hey, man. What’s new?”

“Not much. What’s new with you?”

“Ah, you know. Same ol’. Same ol’.”

“I hear that.”

“Yep.”

“Yep.”

“All right, later.”

“Later.”

Wow. What a waste.

We decided that there was absolutely nothing new to say or mention. Imagine that. Nothing new happening in the world.  No new knowledge to drop. Not a single tidbit of new information about… anything.

A perfect chance to give one another the gift of knowledge, and we turned it down. It was a chance to grow. A chance to innovate. A chance to evolve. But instead, we said, “F you, Mr. New.”

Who does that? (Especially in this business, right?)

Well, I did. And it’s never going to happen again.

Imagine all the things we could learn in a day, if we asked everyone we saw, “What’s new?” and we actually had a meaningful exchange about something new in our lives.

‘There’s some cool new anti WiFi paint on the market now.” “I think Paulie laughed at 30 Rock last night.” “The Walkmen are a great band. Check em out.”"Just read Baked In.” “Just pitched some great work for MOCADSV.”

Just one thing. One shiny new thing that you can give one another. Free.

That’s why, today, I start anew.

Today, I’m going to learn more about you and learn something new. Every time I see you, I’m going to ask you “What’s new?” and not stop until you give it to me.  And I want you to do the same. Ask me, “What’s new?” Ask everyone you meet. Everyday.

Emerson said it best, “Knowledge is the antidote to fear.” And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to fear anything.

So, I gotta ask…

“What’s new with you?”