"I just want to say something for like 30 seconds." Solomon Lederer, a software developer for Morgan Stanley, had an interesting pastime: during the morning commute he would stand up and announce to subway cars that he was looking to meet friends, network, and exchange services.
Lederer would hand out fliers to commuters with his email address and a call for ideas to unify riders, and help strangers connect. In this Wall Street Journal video, Lederer says he is looking for actors and scriptwriters for his subway campaign, though the video does not make it clear what for, exactly. "I have this idea that so we can do some kind of exchange or networking on the subway so we can get more of what we want..." In exchange he would promise to watch someone's dog, or organize their closets.
The fliers, according to the accompanying article, "landed Lederer lunch with the chief communications officer of a holding company, a date and a solicitation to clean a woman's soiled guinea pig cages."
A week after this video appeared, Lederer was let go from his job at Morgan Stanley as a result, he claims, for participating in the story. A representative from Morgan Stanley told WJS.com that Lederer was not let go because of the video, though the company's policy bars employees from speaking to the media without prior consent.
Some of his unique subway interactions can be found on Lederer's personal blog, The Underground Connection.