“You’ve got ping, but they’ve got no pong”
It's almost impossible to have fun playing ping pong with someone who doesn't care, won't try or isn't any good.
The same thing is true of just about anything that matters in the connection economy. A consultation with a surgeon, creating a new conference or working in partnership with an ad agency… If you're going to create something worth building, it's going to be because there's an infinite game going on, not merely blind obedience and tired conformity.
You can take a great deal of responsibility for creating this mutual enthusiasm, and you can put the effort into creating an environment and a story where it's likely to happen.
Connection requires energy and insight and enthusiasm from both sides, and if your partner isn't responding, look hard at why. Of course, if you can't bring your half, stay home.