CONFERENCE SEASON iS GiViNG GROWN-UP RECESS.

Cue the lanyards. The name tags. The slightly stale coffee.

Yes, folks—it’s Conference Season: The Sequel. And honestly? It’s giving grown-up recess.But not the fun, carefree, cartwheel-on-the-blacktop kind.More like… awkward social navigation with slightly better shoes.

You scan the room. Find your people. Stick to what’s familiar.Avoid eye contact with the dodgeball of networking.

And if you're like most American adults, this might resonate a little too hard:51% of us say it’s harder to make friends now than it was when we were younger.

And I say this with love: that’s a you problem. 😌

Because somewhere along the way, many of us decided:

• “I have enough friends.”

• “New people are exhausting.”

• “I’m too busy for small talk unless it’s strategic.”

• Or worse: we went full “mean girl” and didn’t even notice.

The playground patterns? Still alive and well.Same lunch crew.Same side of the monkey bars.Same “Hey, how are you?”—which loosely translates to “I don’t really care but you’re the only face I recognize.”

And we do it why?

Because new feels awkward. Vulnerable. Risky. Unscripted.…And not everyone’s into awkward.

But you know who is? Kids.

Gawd bless them, kids are walking weirdos in the best way possible.

“Wanna play?” “My grandma smells.” “I like that your teeth stick out. Mine do too.”

No small talk warm-up. No LinkedIn dance. No resume flex, no “let’s circle back” energy. Just honesty. Curiosity. And the willingness to look a little weird in the name of connection.

So as you’re wandering the expo hall, shuffling through swag bags and dodging the overly enthusiastic icebreaker games, remember this:

Be more playground.

👋🏾 Say hi first🧐 Be curious, not strategic🤝 Ditch the cliques🕹️ Play with someone new

Because the best collaborations?The best clients, ideas, career pivots, plot twists?They don’t happen in the safety of your sandbox.

They happen when you wander over to the swings.When you take a risk.When you lead with weird instead of polish.

And if you need a little push? I got you.

Let’s chat.