A Social Experience
by Michael Diaz
“Pick Your N.O.’s” is an exploration of the decisions we make everyday.
What do you say “NO” to? From judging others by their looks to the preservation of our environment, when do you Pick Your N.O.’s? In an effort to bring attention to these decisions, this experience compels us to welcome New Opportunities (N.O.) in a World of mystery.
Sightless conversations compel us to think on our feet in a way that keeps us fully engaged. This intense concentration produces an interaction that provides a great opportunity to recruit others in a creative and innovative fashion!
So try it. Meet someone new! Allow your mind the luxury of performing in a unique way.
How to Explain
Simple is better!
Ask a person: “Would you like to meet someone you have never met? The catch is, neither of you can see each other until the end of the conversation .”
Demonstrate with your hand (or a piece of paper) over your eyes, to show the person that it involves a blindfold.
Explain that you do not want to bias their opinion by revealing the purpose or benefits of the experience.
It is a new way to meet people.
The Process1. Blindfold a person, fold the paper on one side so it’s a little less wide and tape it to their temples.
Walk them over with their right hand on your right shoulder, or hold their right wrist with your right hand ( they are less likely to run into things)
2. Once the person is seated, tell them you will return in a few minutes with someone else.
Assure them that they must be patient but it will be worth it. Comfort the person! Tell them you will return in a few minutes.
3. Once the second person is seated next to the first person, break the ice by asking participants three general questions.
Name, hometown, ethnicity, major, favorite music band/genre, recent movie watched, how many siblings (choose three or make three up, these are supposed to be easy quick questions)(remind them to close their eyes!)
4. Next assign each participant a deep, thought provoking question, explain that each person has to answer both questions. Let them talk for 3-4 minutes, if the conversations sizzles, ask another question.
5. Ask them what they thought of the experience, and what they think the purpose is.
6. Ask participants to vividly imagine the other person’s appearance, and then have them remove the blindfold.
What do sightless conversations do?1. They increase attention, which increases retention.
2. They introduce new people into our lives, NEW OPPORTUNITIES (N.O.)
3. They are consistently different. New experiences = growth.
Once we can accept new experiences, we can begin to take the steps necessary for change. As one of the pillars of the Triple Bottom Line, social experiences help to create a more sustainable future.
Over 940 participants have enjoyed “Pick Your N.O.’s” as of July 2011.
For more info about “Pick Your N.O.’s”, contact Michael Diaz at pickyournos@gmail.com
PickYourNOs.com
