👋 Welcome to Curating Connection, a weekly newsletter from Casa Cinco for entrepreneurs and investors in social health.

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This week I’m sharing Part II of Can’t find a community? Build your own. See Part I here. Plus—lunchtime gossip and dates in sweaty places. Happy reading!

Here’s to connecting,

Andy

Can’t find a community? Build your own

Last week, Part I offered a glimpse into the process for building community (or rather a container for it, if you read carefully!).

Today, I’d like to talk about the form that really makes a difference in the process. At the end of the day, I’m a big believer that what you do is nowhere nearly as important as how you do it.

Ready? 

FORM > PROCESS

If you didn’t read Part I, you can almost skip it. Focus on Part II and you’ll be more than halfway to building a safe, strong, and healthy community.

Remember, it’s how you do things that really makes a difference.

1. 🛟Establish trust and confidentiality: Don’t assume people know how to behave in every situation. If relevant to the community you are building, make sure you set an expectation for confidentiality. Maybe less so for a running club? Allow members to share as much as they feel comfortable doing so and have leaders lead by example.   

2. 👯Connect at a human level first: The best connections I've experienced are those where people treat each other as people first. Not as resources or as a means to an end, as is so common in today’s transactional culture. Get to know members as individuals—not as executives, runners, or volunteers. Individuals with their own likes and dislikes and fears and wants. Individuals like you and me.

3. 📃Encourage service: The 12th and final step in AA recovery programs is service—helping another person on their journey. Without this step, the whole process doesn't work in the long term. The lesson: we're better at doing things for others than we are for ourselves. Delegate tasks to other members, ask for their opinions, and allow the formation of subcommittees. Share the responsibility of nurturing your community.

4. 📱Use technology as a tool: Discussions on communities are centered around likes, followers, and, frankly, a lot of BS. Make sure that whatever channels you use for communication are used as tools—not replacements—for connection. Target 100 members who love your community, actively participate in it, and help each other out over 10,000 followers on whatever platform who never show up for each other. 

5. 🤘Be discerning: As with every entrepreneurial effort, the key to success is in quick, informed iterations. But remember, you decide. Amidst the craziness of feedback, change, and growth—be discerning. Say no. Say no again. As your community grows, so will the forces trying to change it. Listen to your gut.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

How do you know if your community is adding value to people’s lives? You’ll feel the magic.

You can use data and measure all types of things, sure, but the real value is in how people feel before, during, and after they engage with your community. Energy. Clarity. Kindness. Connection.

That’s what bringing people together meaningfully can, and should, generate.

I know you can do this. And if you need me, I’m here for you.

WEEKLY CURATION

PEOPLE

• 🧘A bit out there: Want to better understand the community you're trying to build? Talk to it. Casa Cinco said she’s ‘human nature’

• ✒️Who’s got your next job? Watch The Conduit’s Green Job Revolution

• 🎈Dream up your next gathering at Priya Parker's free webinar. Doesn’t get any better than this!

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

• 👋UCL has developed a device that mimics human touch. Hello long distance relationships? Remember: no to replacements, yes to tools for connection

• 📱Has social media broken human connection? Here’s to rebuilding geniune connection in the digital age

• 🤖WSJ: Can AI companions help cure the loneliness epidemic? Key word: ‘help’

PLACES

• 🪩The dark side of the experience economy. Takeaway: Make sure you engage in experiences you geniunely enjoy and can afford (aka, don’t do it for the ‘gram)

• 🏢The rise of the 'flagship office': the role of ‘placemaking’, authenticity, and narrative in creating more liveable and meaningful office spaces

• 🍴Lunchtime gossip used to connect the workplace. It's time for a comeback. Thank you to one of our members for sharing!

• 🏃‍♂️WSJ: The hottest (and sweatiest) place to find a date

CONNECT WITH CASA CINCO

Are you an entrepreneur or investor in social health? At Casa Cinco, our mission is to invest in, support, and build a community for people like you.

Reply to this email with the subject line ‘member’ and join for access to events, workshops, dealflow and more. We look forward to meeting you!

Building a more connected world, together.

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