There’s a saying in the Bible about treating everyone, even total strangers, with hospitality and respect because you never know when you might be “entertaining angels”. The wisdom of this advice is not just for heavenly beings.
Say you’re sitting in Starbucks working away on your laptop and someone walks by, bumps into your elbow and causes you to spill your Americano. You could simply wave your hand indicating it’s OK. Or you could pull out your earbuds, smile, and tell them, “No problem, I’ve done it before myself! I’m Isaac by the way.”
You may never see them again, but it’s entirely possible you run into them at an event or meetings a few months later, and now you have an instant connection and you’ve made a positive impression. They may even be an angel investor in your budding startup.
Always assume everyone around you is an important addition to your stockpile of social capital, or just a few degrees away from someone who could be. Not only does it make life a little more fun and train good habits, you never know when you might be entertaining angels of more than one kind.
April 18, 2014
