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A couple of days ago, I saw it again and heard that ringtone.
Small, neat, with a battery that lasted for days.
No fancy apps. No touch screen.
Its main job? To connect people. Literally.
Nothing more. And yet – everything.

When it comes to connecting people, it’s not about sophistication, complexity, or the latest tech.

You can sit next to someone for hours and not really know them.

Or you can talk for just a few minutes and see yourself reflected in another person.

True connection is more about:
Being fully present with someone, without distractions
Gradually and mutually getting to know each other, building trust along the way
Discovering similarities – because every “me too” is a step toward liking each other

These – and a few other – mechanisms were explored by Arthur Aron in the 1990s, exactly when Nokia was at its peak.

His study, “The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness: A Procedure and Some Preliminary Findings”, now better known as the 36 Questions, triggers a series of psychological processes: from sharing personal stories, to finding common ground, to synchronizing emotions and language.

Charles Duhigg, author of Supercommunicators, places this procedure in the broader context of communication — showing different types of conversations (practical, emotional, identity-based) and reminding us that only consciously tuning in to another person creates true understanding and connection.
The author, known for The Power of Habit, draws a deeper lesson here: it’s not just about romantic closeness, but about authentic communication. It’s an example of how questions and intentional conversation can build relationships.

Fun fact: for each question, the two people have… just 2 minutes in total. Proof that it’s not the length of time, but the quality of it, that makes the difference.

Because it’s not only random words that create communication — it’s questions and active listening.

It’s not the phone that connects people, but how we use it.

It’s not simply being next to someone that makes us friends — it’s what we experience together, how we experience it, and how deeply we focus on each other.

Let’s go bold today — have a conversation with someone without distractions, with full focus, and with genuine curiosity for their story.

Let’s be like Nokia – let’s connect us, people.