In my last post I wrote about the “overnight success” of the actors from Heated Rivalry, and now my social media is feeding me every possible clip of Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. If you ever needed proof that the internet is both brilliant and ridiculous, here you go. One little mention, and suddenly my phone thinks I am their publicist.
The world is weird.
But in the middle of all that algorithm chaos, I saw a short interview clip that stopped me. It was Connor Storrie getting ready for the Golden Globes with Tiffany and Co. They asked him what he wanted to manifest for 2026.
This 25 year old actor has been launched into a whole new universe. Not long ago he was literally working full time as a restaurant server in Los Angeles while auditioning and hoping something would hit. He is now on red carpets, presenting at the Golden Globes, standing next to the kind of people who used to exist only on movie posters.
So when someone asks, “What are you manifesting this year,” you expect the standard answers.
More roles. More money. More fame. More awards.
Instead, he says, “This year I am manifesting more friends. I want more people that I can be an absolute clown with.”
That is the real flex.
Because deep down, we all know this truth. Success is exciting, but it can also be lonely. And no matter how many highlights you stack up, life is better when you have people to share it with.
Why “more friends” is a power move
A lot of grown adults do not say “I want more friends” out loud.
They will say they want “better networking.”
They will say they want “more community.”
They will say they want to “meet more people.”
But the thing they actually want is friendship. Real friendship. The kind where you can be yourself, laugh too hard, be a little ridiculous, and not worry about looking impressive.
Friendship is not a small goal. It is a life strategy.
Friends are the ones who pull you into rooms you would never find on your own.
Friends are the ones who tell other people your name when you are not in the room.
Friends are the ones who make random Tuesday nights feel like something worth remembering.
And yes, opportunities still come from people.
Human interaction (H.I.) is not “soft,” it is the advantage
Here is where I want to take Connor’s line and connect it to what I speak about.
We live in a world where we have more technology, more tools, and more ways to “connect” than ever before.
And yet a lot of people feel more isolated and disconnected than they did ten years ago.
That is not just a personal issue. It is a business issue.
Because in every organization I have ever worked with, the people who build strong relationships inside and outside the company tend to be the ones who:
Get promoted faster.
Get included in bigger projects.
Handle change better.
Create opportunities for others.
Bring in clients, referrals, and ideas.
Human interaction is the difference between being a name on a org chart and being a person people trust.
It is the difference between “I work here” and “I belong here.”
And when companies underestimate this, they do not just lose culture. They lose momentum.
Why relationships are good for the individual
If you want to manifest more friends, do it for your life, but also do it for your future.
Because relationships create:
Confidence
When you feel connected, you take more risks. You speak up. You try. You raise your hand.
Resilience
When things go sideways, and they always do, people with strong relationships do not spiral as fast. They have support. They have perspective.
Reputation
You cannot build a reputation alone. It is built in the minds of other people.
Opportunity
Not in a cheesy way. In the real way. People recommend people. People pull in people. People hire people.
Why relationships are good for the employer
Now let’s talk about why your company should care, and why your boss should want you to have more friends at work and in the industry.
Companies win when their people build relationships.
Faster collaboration
Work moves faster when people trust each other. Less friction, fewer misunderstandings, fewer long email chains trying to cover every detail.
Higher retention
People do not leave companies as often as they leave managers, teams, and cultures where they do not feel known. Belonging is a strategy.
Stronger client relationships
Clients do business with people, not logos. The strongest accounts are usually the ones where relationships exist at multiple levels, not just through one point of contact.
Better recruiting
The best hires often come through relationships. Great people know other great people.
More innovation
Ideas travel through relationships. Cross department collaboration happens when people have rapport, not when they have to submit a form.
This is why I talk about Human Interaction (H.I.) in an AI driven world.
Because AI can help with efficiency, research, drafts, data, and speed.
But AI cannot build trust.
It cannot create belonging.
It cannot replace the moment where someone feels seen, respected, and included.
Manifesting more friends is not magic, it is movement
If you want more friends in 2026, you cannot hope your way there.
You build it.
You create repetition, proximity, and shared experiences.
Here is a simple plan.
1) Decide what kind of friends you are calling in
Not “more contacts.” Friends.
People who make life lighter.
People who will laugh with you.
People who will be real.
2) Pick your “friendship arenas”
Friends are found in places.
A recurring event.
A volunteer board.
A peer group.
An association.
A weekly routine at the same coffee shop.
A professional community.
Consistency creates familiarity. Familiarity creates comfort. Comfort opens the door to connection.
3) Become the person who goes first
Most people are waiting to be invited.
So invite.
Once a week, send a simple message:
“Hey, I have been thinking about you. Want to grab coffee next week?”
4) Host something small
Breakfast for four.
Dinner for eight.
Walk and talk.
Happy hour meet up.
Nothing fancy. Just intentional.
5) Practice being a little more ridiculous
Connor nailed it. “People I can be an absolute clown with.”
Adults are trying too hard to be polished.
Friendship needs play.
Business relationships need humanity.
Teams need laughter.
My challenge for 2026
I am taking Connor’s line seriously.
This year, I am manifesting more friends.
Not more followers.
Not more “networking.”
More real people.
Pick three people you want to know better.
Text one of them today.
Put a date on the calendar within the next two weeks.
Then pick one place you will show up consistently this year, and actually show up.
Because the world is weird, the algorithm is relentless, and the pace of life is fast.
But human interaction (H.I.) still wins.
And the best part is, when you build better friendships and stronger relationships, everybody benefits. You, your family, your career, and yes, even your employer.
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Thom Singer, CSP, is a professional keynote speaker and the CEO at the Austin Technology Council.