Have you been on top of the world?

One of our favorite games is "two truths and a lie". It is a great way to introduce yourself to a group of folks who do not know you very well. Example: I have river rafted the Colorado River, I have climbed Mt Fuji in Japan, I have climbed Mt. Elbert in the US. Now I would have noted that I lived in Japan for 3 years and I live in Bellingham, Washington now. Mt. Rainier is 14410 ft and Mt Elbert is way Higher. So which are the two feats I have done and what is the one I have not.

This can also be a great ice breaker game. And can be used in networking groups. How do you all get some info out there? Some groups use a "hot seat" time to ask any questions of members. Experienced that? Does it work?

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8 Bizniks have posted replies

Posted by Judy Dunn, Seattle, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

Hey, Jim,

I agree. A fun networking activity. We played a slightly modified version of this game at the biznik Networking the Island Way event Bob and I hosted on Anderson Island this last August.

Ours was "Two Truths and a Wish." It was a great way to get to know each other and to find out not only what interesting things people have done, but what they have always wanted to do, which was even more telling.

I highly recommend this activity in networking groups that are fairly small in number (8 or less?) because the discussions before the voting do take some time and that is the really interesting, fun part. We had each person say what they thought the wish was, and then why.

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Posted by Debra Lane, Bothell, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

Hi Jim - this sounds like fun! Here are my 3.

I have worn a kimono while in Japan watching fireworks.

I was recently Entrepreneur of the Year for a national group

I really hate Politics!

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Posted by Jim Carney, Bellingham, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

I love Judy's thought to changing the last part to a wish. I do not want to be the one encouraging people to "lie". Or be deceptive! Integrity in business is really valuable. And most know it takes time to build trust and only 1 small quick event to lose it.

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Posted by Jeff Fisher, Portland, Oregon | Oct 09, 2008

I'm in too:

My movie acting debut was in the film Animal House.

I cooked a spaghetti dinner for The Ramones before one of their concerts.

I was involved in a business operation with the Noriega family of Panama until the U.S. government invaded the country.

(PS: I had no problem with the "lie" or "fib" aspect and my entry was written when that was the suggestion.)

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Posted by Jim Carney, Bellingham, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

Thought I should also try the second format:

Starred on a soccer team. Starred on a softball team. Starred on a basketball team.

Like Jeff, as a game most would have no problem! Sometimes too much content can help. Example... Started swimming at the Seattle YMCA at age 10. Maybe I started at age 9 or maybe it was Kirkland. Or maybe it was High School. So it is sometimes easier to tell 2 full truths and one that is mostly true but not all true for your lie.

I have no doubt Jeff cooked a spaghetti dinner. Maybe he cooked one for the Noriega family too.

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Posted by Judy Dunn, Seattle, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

Love this game! And for the record, we've done both: the lie and the wish. They are both a lot of fun.

There are so many variations. A one biznik lunch, we asked for people to tell three jobs they've had and one had to be a lie, and we tried to guess which one. Lots of laughs and you left knowing each person a little better.

Wish I had time to play this game, but deadlines beckon.

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Posted by Andy Ciordia, Charlotte, North Carolina | Oct 09, 2008

Great idea.

Anyone have a book recommendation on these ideas? Last night we had 55 ppl come out to one of my meetings, 85% of them were new faces and not one of them wanted to be called on. I know what the hotseat is like and I dislike it so I don't go far into peoples comfort zone but I'd love some further ideas on group participation notions or books I should read. :)

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Posted by Jim Carney, Bellingham, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

There is so much on the web. Just type Ice breakers into google and that alone will give you lots and lots of ideas. Anyone with a good book for Andy?

BTW just doing one ice breaker is usually all it takes for a group like you described. Everyone is new. So you are all feeling the same things. Once the "rules" are out there everyone plays along. "random count off to get 3 or 4 in a group" so that this only takes 5 minutes is a start. And then have them go in some order. Month of the year their birthday is in for example or height. And that, too, will help them get to know something else about each other.

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