Hello World!
Have you ever met someone new only to discover you share a mutual friend… or several? Suddenly the world feels much smaller than you imagined.
That “small world” moment is more than coincidence. Researchers have long studied the idea of six degrees of separation — the theory that all people are connected through just a handful of relationships. In reality, those connections may be even closer than we think.
This idea has fascinated me for decades.
Back in the mid-1990s, I began gathering women for informal conversations about running small businesses. What started as a simple coffee gathering quickly evolved into something much bigger. The group became known as Women in Small Biz, now the Women’s EmPOWERment Marketplace.
Something remarkable happened.
Women began introducing one another to clients, vendors, and opportunities. Referrals started flowing. Businesses grew. Over time, tens of thousands of dollars in opportunities were exchanged among more than 5,000 women — and a few bold men too.
What we experienced firsthand was the power of networks.
Scientists studying networks discovered something interesting: within every network there are “hubs.” These are people or organizations with an unusually large number of connections.
Mathematicians like Steven Strogatz and Duncan Watts studied how connections form and how groups synchronize — from heart cells beating together to insects chirping in unison.
Their research revealed something powerful:
connections create coordination.
In networks, most people have a handful of connections, but a few individuals act as super-connectors — the hubs that link everyone together.
We see hubs everywhere today — organizations like Google, Amazon, and Facebook have become hubs of the digital world. But hubs also exist in our communities: the people who naturally connect others, share information, and bring people together.
And that brings me to today.
When communities face challenges — whether economic, social, or public health — those connections matter more than ever.
Imagine if every community hub helped spread accurate, trusted information.
Imagine if leaders, business owners, and engaged citizens shared consistent messages that helped protect and inform others.
Information could travel quickly — not just through media, but through relationships.
Because relationships are how communities actually move.
So here’s a simple question:
Do you consider yourself a hub?
If you’re someone who brings people together, shares ideas, and connects others, you already have the power to influence your network in positive ways.
In a small world like ours, every connection matters.
Each of us can help strengthen the network — by sharing good information, supporting one another, and staying connected.
Because when it comes down to it, the world really is smaller than we think.
And together, we can make a difference.
Bettina Carey Productions 