Why I Get a Coffee with Someone New at 8 a.m. Every Single Day

For nan first 41 years of my life, I ran from coffee. I didn't deliberation I 'needed' it. My power levels person ever aligned pinch those of that kid you don't want to beryllium adjacent to connected a flight. Up earlier nan sun each day, I worked until my eyes refused to enactment unfastened astatine night, battling nan time — each without coffee.

And then, I became a dad. Everything changes erstwhile a caller life blesses you, including sleeping patterns. The contiguous deficiency of power I knowledgeable was incredible. My workout regular was decimated, my moving hours slashed, and my power levels were now successful statement pinch nan sloth you spell to return selfies pinch astatine your section zoo.

I had to find a measurement to get my pep backmost successful my step.

"Rog, want a coffee?"- My wife, Abby.

"Absolutely not. I don't request coffee. I've ne'er tried it and ne'er will."- Me.

"Have 1 sip."

"Fine. One sip." I'm now a java addict.

That was it. The Garden of Eden. Pandora's Box. I was connected nan different broadside of caffeine innocence. The saccharine nectar from nan Gods of Energy had been tasted, and I would ne'er return.

But I had to find a measurement to make nan java travel a "me" thing. I realized that now that I was a "coffee guy," I had an opportunity to do thing I hadn't done for nan first 21 years of my career: coffee meetings!

If you cognize my story, you cognize I was a unspeakable student. I learned comparatively early that sometimes it's not what you cognize but who you know. I person ever been a student of networking. I emotion relationships. I obsess complete learning from awesome leaders.

Related: 8 Health Habits That Will Boost Your Energy Levels

One of my favourite quotes is, "It's not nan grades you make, but nan hands you shake." So really could I leverage this recently discovered "coffee hour" to create caller relationships, make caller connections and study astir caller industries, launching my time into nan stratosphere of success?

Coffee pinch Closers! Eureka. That was it. I made nan bold determination to person java pinch a different personification six days a week. Forever. I had nary thought what nan travel I was astir to embark connected looked like, but I was excited (and caffeinated).

There is thing incorrect pinch networking arsenic agelong arsenic it's genuine. People emotion talking astir themselves arsenic agelong arsenic it's successful a comfortable setting. I've recovered that a java shop gathering is disarming; it allows for that authentic connection. There are nary nerves, conscionable group making and maintaining meaningful relationships. I'm ever nonstop erstwhile I do my cold-ish reachouts, letting them cognize that I simply want to perceive their story. I person nary schedule different than creating a caller friendship.

Life is astir connections, and I recovered astatine a young property that I bask connecting nan dots — and talking. What amended measurement to walk each greeting than doing 2 of my favourite things?

The cardinal to increasing is surrounding yourself pinch caller friends and different perspectives. There's an creation to connecting nan dots, particularly successful nan realm of entrepreneurship.

• You request a canning institution for your caller power drink? I've sewage a guy!
• You request a fastener shaper for your caller clothing line? I've sewage a feline who knows a guy!
• You request an agave works for your startup tequila brand? I cognize a feline who knows a feline who knows a guy!

You get nan point. The downside of connecting group is nonexistent. Friendship? Mentorship? Support? Success? Why can't location beryllium much days successful nan week?

The lure of entrepreneurship is that location is nary "right" way aliases "best" adjacent move. That's nan full point. It's a limitless wonderland of innovation, productivity and connection.

Entrepreneurship can't beryllium successful isolation. How does nan saying go, "It takes a village?" Well, I want to cognize everyone successful my village. I want to cognize their story, passions, and "why." Starting my time learning from personification other gives maine nan caller position I request to proceed showing up each day, some physically and mentally.

Related: 5 Goal-Setting Guidelines That Drive Success

Every day, I prioritize gathering personification pinch a caller position to support nan pep successful my step. I mightiness person tally from caffeine my full life, but I will ne'er tally from pursuing caller connections. And you shouldn't either. Over nan past mates of years, I've created complete 500 caller relationships, each of which I return my "Coffee pinch Closers" photograph with. My squad and I past create a little bio of nan personification I was blessed to walk clip with, and we station it connected my individual LinkedIn account.

Edifying personification for being successful is great, but showcasing personification because they're successful AND kind? That's what I'm talking about!

Also, nosy fact…along nan measurement successful my java journey, I met immoderate founders of a startup java company. I'm now 1 of nan founding investors. How astir that? The anti-coffee feline is now portion proprietor of a java company?

Full circles are my favourite circles.