Sharing Experiences

THE ANECDOTE

While waiting at my son’s new dentist’s office, I drifted into my usual habit of scanning the space. Sitting on a shelf in the corner was a little sign that read:

Moments: It is very rare for two energies to share the exact same feeling & emotion at the exact same moment in time. 

– Jessica Dobracki

When we made it back to the chair, the dentist introduced himself with the same last name. Naturally, I had to ask. Turns out, it was a little written quip by his better half.

Shared moments are such an incredible phenomenon. Isn’t it unusual how we can experience the same thing as someone else, at the exact same time, yet our experiences can be entirely different?

Other times, we can have a moment where the feelings are perfectly aligned – no words needed, just a quick glance that says everything.

A few years back, my wife (and much better half) Chanel and I went to see Stevie Nicks. Stevie is one of Chanel’s favorite artists, and the night was incredible – the performance, the venue, the audience, all of it.

Chanel was entirely in her element. She wore pure bliss the entire evening. She sang every song, the dancing never quit, and her smile could have knocked out the people next to us if she turned her head too quickly.

I grew up with Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks playing on the household the radio, but I can’t say I’m a fan like Chanel. I love her music, but it never spoke to me the way it did to her. I recognize that kind of deep connection – just not with Stevie.

While Chanel was lost in nostalgic euphoria, I found myself mesmerized by the energy of the moment… her joy, the crowd’s enthusiasm, and yes, a beautiful white German Shepherd seated ahead of us.

Both of us had an incredible time, but the experience we each had was different.

Now compare this to a different kind of moment – one where everyone feels the same thing at the same time.

You park after a long drive through some of the most beautiful countryside you’ve ever seen – rolling farms, forests, small towns. The radio has been playing hits the entire way. After a brisk mile-long walk slightly uphill, you hear the forest break. The change in sound pulls you into the present. Sun streaks through the leaves as you reach a sandy dune clearing. You all just stand there, speechless, taking it in.

The water before you looks otherworldly. Some impossible shade of blue-green that belongs in the tropics. But it’s Michigan.

Everyone in the group has a moment. The same moment. A shared moment. Everything leading up to it has aligned – emotions, feelings, excitement.

Why does this matter? 

Because shared moments are powerful moments.

According to one Yale study, experiences shared are amplified by a considerable amount.

They can strengthen relationships, create lasting bonds, improve learning, foster higher engagement, and create positive associations with everything involved—the venue, the song playing, the brands that are present.

Shared experiences make pleasant things more pleasant and unpleasant things less unpleasant.

A RADICAL IDEA

What if we prioritized designing shared moments in everything we do? Every project, every campaign, every interaction could start with a singular question:

How will this be experienced together?

Instead of producing things just to check a box, imagine designing each output as something that could be shared. Something tangible. Something immersive. Something that aligns feelings, emotions, and perspectives in real time.

Let’s take it further:

What if we used the power of shared experiences as a filter for our work?

Before getting to work, ask:
➡️ Will this spark collective engagement?
➡️ Will it align emotions and create shared meaning?

If the answer is no, perhaps it’s time to reconsider. Because the most impactful work isn’t just seen or heard – it’s felt.

Shared experiences deepen connection and amplify impact.

CHALLENGE 

Whatever it is you’re pouring your heart into this week, start with the goal of creating a shared moment. The kind where people feel the same thing at the same time.

Then build everything else around that.

If successful, you’ll amplify your outcomes. If not, at least you started with passion, and passion creates gravity.

Either way, you win.

🔗 Want to stay in touch? Connect with me at linkedin.com/in/scottschoeneberger.