Rob: There’s a funny video with our encounter with David Schwimmer (Ross from friends) last week in Los Angeles, at the end of this post.
The second most asked question I get is “can you give me an invitation to A Small World” (the first is how do you make the money to Live a Jet Set Life – that question will be answered soon with our Jet Set Business Academy).
So, what’s A Small World (ASW) anyway? Well, the truth is I’m not allowed to talk about what goes on inside. It’s kind of like fight club. What happens in fight club stays in fight club. I can talk about what its founders are willing to let non-members know.
From ASW Public Pages
“Erik Wachtmeister founded ASMALLWORLD as a private online community for like-minded individuals. Most networking communities are open. Ours is only by invitation. Trusted members who have existing social networks of quality in the real world extend the invitations. A SmallWorld offers a retreat that intimately allows members to enhance their networks and to reconnect with old friends.”
” Since its inception in 2004, ASMALLWORLD has quickly expanded into a global community of trusted friends and information. Members range from entrepreneurial and business opinion makers to leaders in media, entertainment, fashion, the arts and sports.”
From Wikepedia
“A Small World is an online social networking service which is an exclusive invitation-only network with roughly 300,000 members. Founded by Erik Wachtmeister, a former investment banker and INSEAD graduate, and the son of a former Swedish ambassador to the United States. The network includes several famous names.”
What I think
What I love about ASW is the intimacy and the quality of the demographic profile that I honestly just wouldn’t have access to any other way. I can’t mention any members by name, but I can tell you that many of its members are names you would recognize. Having the luxury of being dialed in wherever I go in the world is priceless to me. I have made friendships with like-minded Jet Setters that will last a lifetime.
So, the big question – how do I get in? Well, I wish that I had a better answer for you than what’s posted on their sign in page:
“Membership to ASMALLWORLD is by invitation only, which is part of what makes this network unique, and the connections authentic. Trusted and loyal ASW members who meet certain criteria have the privilege of inviting a limited number of their friends to the network. If you know someone with this privilege, you can ask them to invite you. If not, please be patient and continue to ask around in your own personal and professional circles.”
Tough pill to swallow – I know. The truth is there just isn’t any other way to get in. It took me two years to get access to this secret society. It was frustrating and slightly embarrassing having to continually ask (beg), but my efforts finally paid off and believe me it was well worth the wait. My invitation came from the most unlikely of places. I won’t mention his name because I want to protect his privacy. Suffice it to say that it really came out of left field. My recommendation is to keep asking for an invitation and eventually you will find someone like I did who had invite privileges, thought you were a good match and was nice enough to give you a shot.
Question:
Do you have any stories about trying to get in? Have you successfully gotten in? Why do you think you should be in? Love to know your thoughts or experiences.
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Love the video!!! You should have filmed more :)
Turning off the camera is what separates Rob as a human rather than paparazzi. Respect.
Speaking of ASW, it truly takes a different approach than other networks. The friend-of-a-friend invitation system is responsible for that. Last week, we got together the first Philadelphia ASW cocktail party and had a diverse mix of 35-40 people come together. Those interactions rarely come together on something like MySpace. When they do, it generally ends with the words “I’m Chris Hansen…”
There’s an air of mutual respect and interest, generally because an ASW network represents a a small, but genuine set of friends & acquaintances. ASW is quite JSL. Yes, I just used JSL as an adjective.
Ha! Loved hearing about ASW. I’ve been seeking an invite for a while.
Funny story about the camera.
When i started working at Paramount, I’d often use a different door to exit other than the one I entered through. Bad idea, I ruined a few takes of various shows.
Hope y’all had a good time in LA. Thanks to one of your commenter I scored a nice rental car deal.
Nice video. Pwnd!
Rock!!!
thanks very much for the infos yu shared!
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first person I asked got me in, so it all depends on who you interact with…
Thanks for the good info post. Hope to get an invitation from someone.
Hi there,
thx for this info and your experience….me too…asked a few people already, but either no privilege to invite or punished me for asking…not easy to search for more persons, who can do so…
we are moving from germany to fuerteventura, as we want to have a better life as well, at least more sun ;)
anyone can invite, please don´t hesitate to do so…we can support all needs on fuerteventura, when we´re there…my wife is hairdresser…so maybe, another option…
greets to all
Ilona & Ralf
Eric wachmeister is gone and the site expanded too much to make CPM advertisment revenue…(from 70K to 800K!!!!!)…Not so small anymore…Look out for smaller sites with more sophisticated audience:
Qubers
elixio.net
spire.com
decayenne.com