Alright, here’s how I tackled exploring new members and their backstories in our community group last week. Started by realizing we’d gained six fresh faces through word-of-mouth referrals but knew zilch about them beyond names. Didn’t wanna be that awkward host who just points at pizza and mumbles “help yourselves.”
The Prep Work
First, I dug through our sign-up sheets – total mess, just email scraps and phone digits. Slapped together a simple Google Form instead asking:
1. What dragged you into this group?
2. One weird skill you own that nobody expects
3. Your most cringe-worthy “I thought this was brilliant” idea that bombed
Sent it on Tuesday morning figuring we’d get two replies max. Shockingly, all six fired back answers by dinner time.
The Goldmine Moments
One dude’s response had me spitting coffee: “Joined ‘cause my yoga instructor swore you guys fix broken 3D printers. My hidden talent? I can dislocate both shoulders to win at limbo. Worst idea? Tried to invent glow-in-the-dark barbecue sauce. My cat’s fur still radiates green.”
Another lady wrote: “Saw your meetup flyer on a laundromat bulletin board covered in gum. I restore antique Tupperware as therapy. Failed project? Crocheted a life-sized giraffe that collapsed when it sneezed.”
Suddenly had this locker-room energy brewing where people actually wanted to trade dumpster-fire project stories.
The Unplanned Test
Friday’s meetup got wild when Dave (limbo shoulder guy) actually demonstrated his party trick under the conference table. Tina (Tupperware lady) brought a 1970s celery keeper that looked like an alien spaceship. We spent forty minutes passing it around like some holy artifact.
Almost forgot to discuss the actual agenda item – expanding our composting program. But hell, watching introverts elbow each other to share photos of their disastrous DIY projects? That’s the magic glue.
What Clicked
- Asking stupid = getting real: Straight-up corporate “tell us your vision” questions collect dust. Ask about their worst fail? Instant fireworks.
- Embrace the awkward: That Tupperware looked ridiculous. We loved it. Didn’t polish the weirdness – celebrated it.
- Spark don’t steer: Planned a composting talk. Got shoulder limbo instead. Best meeting in months.
Now everyone’s bugging me to make “show your worst fail” a monthly segment. Lesson learned: people don’t join groups for agendas. They join to find others who’ll laugh at their glow-in-the-dark sauce disasters.