The following are suggested steps (in order) for achieving this goal. For maximum impact, be sure to read about how to get started with your goal project.
- Take a moment to consider why you want to meet five new people. Are you looking for new local friends to meet with for coffee? Or are you naturally shy and looking to strike up a conversation with five strangers in order to conquer your fears? The answer to this question will impact how you determine if you’ve met your goal or not.
- Prepare a list of questions you can use for small talk. For example, you could ask people how long they’ve lived in the area, if they have any kids or pets, what kinds of music or movies they like, and/or what they do for a living. If you’re feeling adventurous, come up with a couple unexpected questions. (Make sure you can answer all of these questions, too!)
- Join a local Meetup group. Groups range from “New in Town” to “Vegetarians” to “Anime Lovers,” so there’s a good chance you’ll find at least one to join. Browse through each group page to get an idea of what the members are like and how many typically show up; a popular and broad group like “Movie Watchers” is a particularly good choice for getting your feet wet.
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Join Twitter and follow other users who are in your local area. Most cities have frequent “Tweetups” where Twitter users get together for coffee or a beer and hang out; the ice is usually broken pretty quickly because you’ve read one another’s Twitter messages and already have a passing familiarity.
You can find Twitterers in your town with Tweepsearch and/or by searching Summize for people tweeting from or about your location.
- See if you can combine this goal with another goal by joining local groups, sports teams, or classes. If you always wanted to knit, a knitting class would be a great way to meet someone new.
- Share this goal with your friends and ask if you can tag along the next time they’re hanging out with a friend that you haven’t met.
