Reply to Why can’t I meet anyone who wants a big career that changes the world?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A lot of people in DC do work like this. But talking about it in the terms that you are using easily comes across as narcissistic, self-promoting, or naive. It is more popular here to appear to be self-deprecating but use terms and lingo that other like-minded people will pick up on. Of course people can also be self-promoting braggarts but they usually do it in a more subtle way than places like NYC and San Francisco. [/quote]

+1000

…unless OP wants to meet and hang around with twenty somethings. Even people working at orgs OP would find praiseworthy as a rule don’t make it about themselves as they get older. a 35+ year old (especially post-kids) who works in accounting, legal, HR or development (fundraising) at an organization tackling an important societal problem around the DMV is generally not going to be as enthusiastic as a new hire who thinks ordering supplies, making calls to donors or drafting blog posts or marketing press releases is changing the world. Those who are that passionate will often share that passion if you get to really know them and are sincere in your interest.

The problem is that in this area everyone asks everyone else detailed questions about their work history and career as small talk as if they were talking about the weather when they often don’t care what the answer, they simply want to know how they stack up, or want to be able to name drop you later to show others how connected they are. All these authentically passionate would be world changers who form part of the team that makes change possible, but who are not the the scientist in the lab making the breakthrough, or the brilliant mind developing the earthy changing strategy,  learn to keep things superficial and do the self depreciating thing someone else mentioned.

If you want to meet those high profile types who don’t stop talking about themselves just go to one of many awards ceremonies and chat with the keynote speakers or award winners…[/quote]

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