So, I’ve become a bit of a recluse lately.
Finishing up a book project, planning a wedding, running a business, working on a masters degree… These are my excuses. Good ones… kinda… not really.
This is the sort of introverted life I lived just a few short years ago. I lived with myself, for myself, and by myself. I was totally removed from any sort of meaningful community. This was a bad way to live. I’m sorry to say that, using the weight of my current commitments as an excuse, I’ve been heading right back into that pit.
Social media has been a good way of keeping in pseudo-touch with the world, but in my case its been just another cop-out. A couple of tweets a day… A blog post here and there… Sporadic Facebook status updates when I feel like it. For me, these have all amounted to nothing but a shallow attempt to cling to meager scraps of visibility in the community.
I don’t want to keep going down that road.
So this is me turning the tables. This is me making a decision to fight my natural inclination to recede into the comfortable complacency of seclusion. This is me doing something bold and probably foolish. This is me going to war against my desire to hide behind a computer screen and pretend like I’m still active in my community.
This is also me asking you to take part in my little crusade…
Over the next 100 days, I’m going to sit down for a cup of coffee with 100 different people. I want to hear their stories and learn from their experiences. I want to learn about their worries and struggles, business or personal, and do my best to serve them. I want to connect them with others who may share a similar story or be able to help. If nothing else, I want to restore a genuine sense of community in my life and the lives of those I meet.
I want you to be one of those people.
Now, I’m not under the impression that I’m someone particularly special or some self-proclaimed celebrity whom you should desperately desire to know in real life. This has nothing to do with ego. If you think so, spend a little more time on my site getting to know me. Shoot me an email and we’ll chat.
So let’s do coffee.
If you’re in the Nashville area (or you will be in the next 3 months) and are interested, leave a comment below with the best way for me to get in touch about scheduling. Of course, you can email me, or hit me on Twitter if that’s easier. If you know of someone whom you’d like me to meet, share this post with them. You can even share it with your friends on Twitter or Facebook.
Everybody’s welcome.
I’ll write about my experiences along this journey from time to time and let you all know how its going using the #100cups hash-tag on Twitter. Don’t worry, I won’t air anybody’s dirty laundry unless they specifically ask me to!
Yes! I drink a cup of coffee daily, so I mine as well enjoy a cup with a great networking/business contact or friend.
Count me in and let me know what day works for you.
Thank you, ma’am!
I’ll be back in town Feb 22-29 and coffee sounds great. Let me know what works for you
Sweet! Just sent you an email.
Kenny, this is wonderful. You are too kind to open your life up to people in this manner. You know I am in! You give me a date on any Tuesday or Thursday in your time frame and I will be there. I look forward to this!
Matt Wade
Thanks, Matt! I’ll be looking forward to it!
Absolutely. Call my cel or shoot me an email. This Thursday early a.m. or next week.
Ben wolf
Thanks, Ben!
Any time, Kenny! Let’s grab some Oscar’s again. I love that place. You know my schedule is really flexible so just let me know whenever you want to meet up.
Mmmmm Oscar’s… Done!
Wait, can I sign up on Oscar’s day??
REALTORs need not apply…
I kidd! I’ll give you a shout and we can set something up. It’s been too long.
Um yes I would love to catch up, friend! Can I go ahead and claim a weekend?
Claimed!
Let’s do it! I’ll be in the 615 March 30-April 2. My email is justin(dot)salters(at)me(dot)com.
Look forward to meeting.
I can’t wait, Justin!
Count me in, bro! Hit me up and we’ll do it: benlreed at gmail.com
I’m coming in town next Thursday the 16th. Would love to catch up then.
That’s a great idea.
Thanks, Julia!
Yes! This is really cool. I’d love to catch up-pretty much any morning as early as you feel like grabbing a cup. sambradley31 at gmail or Twitter DM of course.
Again, you blow me away with another brilliant idea. Absolutely love it.
Wish I could take you up on it – there’s a great little coffee shop down here on the water…
If I’m up in Nashville, I’ll let you know.
And, I may just steal this idea and do the same. You know, if my schedule clears up…
Ha I wish I could head down there and check out that spot by the water… Someday.
Great idea Kenny, I’m wanting to do something similar this year but maybe not with 100 people
Since I’m unemployed, I have more time than usual, so let’s do it! I think you have my number, but if not email me: katymaki@hotmail.com
Hopefully you’ll bring your own cup. At first I thought this was a project to help raise awareness on how many coffee cups we throw away every day.
Anyway, great idea!
This is absolutely fantastic, Kenny.
I just moved to a new city and I think this would be a great way to meet people. I’m also going to pass this on to my Nashville friends.
Thanks, Caitlin!
Yes! Not that would couldn’t sit down any other time…LOL…but sign me up somewhere in all this.
Count me in, man.
Thanks, Mitch!
You know I’m in, brother. I’ll DM you on twitter to get it setup.
Sweet! Looking forward to it.
Oh great day…”would” should be “we”…
Love it. Can this be retroactive or do we actually have to meet again?
Lol I appreciate that, buddy…
Love the idea and would like one of the 100 slots. Email me at bill.hampton@me.com
Thanks, Bill! I just sent you an email.
(i absolutely love that you’re doing this…)
Majesty!
This is a neat idea. I’m an illustrator in Nashville. I live in Oak Hill. catyork.com – catyorkc@gmail.com. I love this font I’m typing in right now.
Thanks, Cat! Expect an email from me very soon.
This sounds fun. Im in!!!
Oh and you can email me at sdrummond201@gmail.com!
Thanks, Stephanie! I’ll be looking forward to it.
I started replying to this earlier but got distracted by the login thing.
Anyway, it’s been a while since we had coffee. At least 6 months, probably longer. I’d love to meet up with you again and talk about what’s new. We both have a lot of new things goin on!
Sounds good! I’ll get in touch very soon to set something up.
I look forward to the stories from all of the others.
What a GREAT concept and thought. I found this via my good ole’ buddy Curt Harding!
Kenny, I won’t be in Nashville any time soon, but I wanted to thank you for the idea. I’m inspired to create one of my own. If I am too busy for people, I am too busy. Thanks for the motivation!
I would love to do this. How about a Saturday morning sometime soon.
Email sent!
Of course I’m in! This is a neat idea, Kenny. Can’t wait to get together and hear more about this journey!
I’m super new to Nashville so it’d be awesome to connect. Here’s my email: andrea.carney@gmail.com — very interested to hear about you training leaders & developing businesses. Thanks!
You have a really neat site! I like what you are doing here…I just subscribed!
I’m a little late to the party, but count me in if there’s still room. I believe you have at least one of my e-mail addresses.