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A NEW ADVENTURE
I’m starting a new adventure thanks to my crazy, world-changing friend, Marc Winn. And, you’re invited!
I met Marc about 10 years ago - over coffee. Actually, it was a virtual coffee. Long before ‘virtual’ coffee dates were a thing.
Marc lives in Guernsey in the Channel Islands - a world away from California. Our paths crossed after participating in a special business mastermind program for lifestyle entrepreneurs. Marc was writing a blog that I loved. We both share a passion for community building + he was one of those thinkers whose ideas always pulled me outside of my proverbial box.
I lost touch with him + his big ideas these past few years. So, when I saw an email in my inbox from him, it caught my eye. The subject line read: Is it time for an adventure?
Hell yes! I don’t know about you, but after the last couple of years living through the pandemic, I was BEYOND ready for an adventure. Maybe you are too?
STEAMING HOT
Marc just published a book called The 50 Coffee Adventure.
“Can you smell the aroma of possibility?”
The adventure he proposes through his book is to go out + intentionally have 50 coffee dates - 50 informal conversations.
That’s it!
Simple, right?
First - think about it for a minute.
Have you ever had a conversation that changed your life? I can think of several.
Now, imagine - giving yourself the gift of 50 intentional conversations. What might unfold?
There’s no denying that 50 conversations with 50 different people - people you know + people you don’t know - would build deeper connections, provide new clarity + spark new ideas. You would learn to ask better questions. Listen more deeply. Make more meaningful connections.
It just might change your life or, dare I say, the world!
SMOOTH + FROTHY
Most of us have been rather cooped up the last few years as a result of the pandemic. Our circles have been small. Our connections focused + few.
I think most of us have felt a benefit from this forced opportunity to dial it back. To examine how + with whom we spend our time.
Social distancing has forced us to reevaluate + prioritize our relationships. But, in the process, the habits we have around connecting have also changed.
One recent example: I had the opportunity to hear Daniel Pink speak about his new book, The Power of Regret in a co-working office setting a few weeks back. It was the first ‘networking’ event I had attended in over two years + it was a strange experience.
Normally, this would have been the kind of event that forced me to have conversations with people I didn’t know. To go up + introduce myself. Meet someone new. Form new connections.
Instead, I stayed on my side of the room with the person I came with. I spoke with no one else there.
As an introvert, I have to say, it was kind of nice having the excuse of COVID to take that pressure off. But, also as an introvert, I can see how the last two years have impacted my habits around allowing connection with others.
Like anything you don’t do for a while - when you pick it back up, it’s awkward + uncomfortable. What better way to grease the wheels? Froth the milk? Hone the skills of conversation + connection than sitting over coffee having a meaningful conversation?
Pandemic aside, another undeniable shift in how we connect (or don’t) is the truth that our screens are occupying more + more of our attention + time. It’s easy to view our screen time as our ‘connection’ time. When in reality, it’s a very limited connection at best. ‘Social’ media is certainly no substitute for a meaningful face-to-face conversation with someone.
BOLD + BREWING
I truly believe that community + connection are as important to health + well-being as the food you eat, the products you use + the exercise you practice. The relationships I have formed over the years are among my most prized possessions (if you can call a relationship a possession, but you know what I mean).
I have a strong sense that we are sitting at the precipice of significant change + infinite opportunity. Things are brewing. Percolating.
And, the most important part of this new brew is the way it brings us together - which isn’t going to magically happen by itself. We are the connectors. The synthesizers.
POUR OVER
So - here’s the deal.
I’m embarking on this adventure by creating my own 50 Coffee Adventure. My goal is to have 54 of these ‘coffees’ before I turn 54 (which is on August 10). That’s 2-3 coffees each week for the next several months.
I am already two coffees in.
The first coffee I had was with Marc - the author of the book + the mischief behind the whole idea. That conversation alone was enough to shift my focus + widen my lens.
The second coffee was with myself. To layout my mission + the path for my adventure. To commit to myself. I even got a brand new journal because I know the magic of connection. I know this adventure will surprise + delight. Sift + explore. Uncover + reveal. The journal will help me remember the whole adventure + the ideas + connections it will stir up.
That leaves 52 coffees to go.
So, my first question to you is - Will you join me for coffee? An intentional conversation with no agenda - just to see what happens?
If it sounds fun to you, hit reply. Let me know you’re in. I’ll send you a link to my calendar so we can get it on the books. I’d love for you to be part of the adventure.
If you are local to the San Diego area - we can meet in person. I have a great new coffee spot to recommend.
If you are not local, we will use the magic of Zoom to create our coffee date.
And, if you are not a coffee drinker, that’s totally fine. There are all kinds of other beverages!
If you don’t feel inspired to coffee with me right now, I do hope reading this post has you thinking about how you can reconnect + connect more deeply with people in your life. It’s time to listen to those nudges you’re feeling. There is no better way to shake up your routine + see things with new eyes than having a meaningful conversation with someone.
And so, the adventure begins…
Let’s change the world over coffee. You in?
YOUR MISSION:
Just say YES! Let’s have coffee! I’ve got my calendar ready. Hit reply to this email or leave a comment if you’re reading this online so we can connect. I’ll send you a link + we can get it on the calendar. Let’s see what kind of magic unfolds.
As Marc says:
You never know where a coffee conversation will lead you. It may very well change your life. It may even change the world!
RESOURCES:
READ: The 50 Coffee Adventure | Marc Winn
IN SUMMARY:
If you are thinking “I want to have my own 50 Coffee Adventure” - you should! You can set your own timeline + parameters. There are no rules. It’s your adventure. But, we can check in with each other + share the journey. There is definitely a community forming around this whole idea - a community of real conversation-lovers + coffee adventurers. Jump in with us!
See you next week?
I love this concept and would love to be one of your coffee dates! We're in the process of moving back to Hawaii so it's gonna be a busy season, but I'd love to do this with you in May.
I’ll have coffee!! 🙋♀️🙋♀️