The View from the Office. 

Peter Williams invited me and a collection of 20 people to dinner at the Harvard Club in New York last week. He had met some while living in Asia, others from previous trips to New York, or simply via LinkedIn.

Peter works at Citibank, and is energized by creating everyday adventures and connecting people.

I met him last year when he reached out to a former colleague, Julia Carreon, for a list of New Yorkers to meet during a trip from his home in Singapore. Somehow, I made the list.

For the trip this year, Peter took advantage of the fact his social club in Singapore, the Tanglin, has a reciprocal relationship with Harvard. Two months ago, he reserved two tables in the main dining room and went about filling them.  

Peter says he became passionate about connecting people after getting his MBA at the University of Chicago in 2010. Soon after, he started exploring creative communities and arranging dinner parties.

He explained the idea of seeking adventure in life as “intentionally and consistently putting yourself in situations where interesting things are likely to happen.” 

The key to a successful dinner party is to show up with “curiosity and a willingness to help other people without expecting anything in return.“

Peter said his efforts have led to some practical and philosophical conclusions, including:

–People are awesome. 

–Stories are our most valuable asset.

–Systems are better than goals.

–Traditions – such as an annual New York dinner – are memorable.

–A shared mindset and structured conversation form the foundation of lifelong friendships. 

–Staying with people you meet and welcoming those people in your home can be powerful.

He suggests striving to maintain a five-to-one ratio of helping others relative to receiving help. 

In the relatively short time I’ve known him, he has taken me to the Harvard Club, the Comedy Cellar and Citi Field to see the Mets play baseball. 

I’m already looking forward to what we will do next time he returns. 

You can connect with Peter on LinkedIn or DM for a warm intro.