Tips for making authentic connections from Morgan Burns

At every event, there will no doubt be a connector.

They’re usually the person talking to everyone, saying hello, introducing people.

It might seem intimidating to approach such an outgoing person, but it can be one of the best ways to expand your own connections.

Besides, as one such connector told us, you don’t need to do anything special—you can simply be in their orbit.

“At an event, if you just stand near me long enough, eventually I’m going to turn around and talk to you, too,” said Morgan Burns, an attendee of CreativeMornings/Milwaukee and the founder of the brand agency Purple Unicorn.

Morgan hasn’t always been the effortless and outgoing connector. Rather, she’s intentionally developed certain skills over time. “I’m neurodivergent and used to be painfully shy, and so I found it helpful to learn about the science of conversation and apply it to my career and social settings,” she said.

Learning the art of conversation is the secret to being a good connector, explained Morgan.

“The way to keep a conversation going is to just ask the next logical question.”

Rather than focusing on what people do, good conversations are about uncovering who people are—their passions, values, and lens for seeing the world.

For Morgan, this curiosity about what drives people alongside her work as a storyteller means she’s often making introductions for people across industries and niches.

“We have some amazing little niches of creativity in Milwaukee, but people can get so hyper-focused in that niche,” explained Morgan. “CreativeMornings brings a multitude of people together and that just opens their eyes so much more.”

The beauty of making such connections is that it can spark new ideas, or as Morgan put it, “jiggle something loose in your brain” to do things differently.

“If you’re having a hard time connecting and you’re not sure where to start, CreativeMornings is a great place because it’s one of the most non-judgmental places in the world and not as prescriptive as regular networking events.”

Finding new connections can be as easy as asking a question or standing in someone’s orbit. Whatever the approach, the key is to be in the room.

“Friendship doesn’t happen if you don’t show up,” concluded Morgan.

^{This article is part of our blog series of love letters to everyone who’s ever been part of a CreativeMornings gathering. Since our start in 2008, our remarkable volunteers have hosted over 15,000 events across the globe. As a community, we have become experts in what it means to create spaces that allow for deep, loving, human connection in an increasingly disconnected world. With this series, we’re sharing what we’ve learned hoping it will encourage you to join in or create your own meaningful spaces. The future is not lonely. It’s communal and hyperlocal.}