Rochester, NY
4:26 PM
I did an interview today. It had been a while, at least over a month. I was a bit rusty. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was going to be. The executive coach that I’m working with said this guy, Craig, would be a good person for me to meet. I emailed him yesterday and we volleyed some times back and forth today and met up at what I learned is an excellent coffee place, Spot Coffee. I walked in to a huge, high ceilinged room. It was 12:45 and there were people eating lunch and others sipping on a joe. That awkward “Who am I meeting?” came mover me as I scanned the crowd. He must have read my look as Craig came over with a smile. He was younger than I expected. I’m not sure why I expected someone older, but I did. He had ordered a chicken sandwich and I decided to grab some chicken soup. I had grabbed a bite at home, but I can’t turn down soup, especially chicken noodle and especially when I’m a bit under the weather.
We grabbed our food and went into a big room with numerous couches and curtains that ran all the way up to the ceiling. I felt like I was in a VIP room. As I sat there, the place reminded of a place I was at in Vegas. During the day it was a restaurant, but once the night came on it turned into this all out nightclub. They’d clear the tables and dancing cages would appear. A total transformation. Now, I’ve been by this place at night, and it still is a coffee shop, but it has the feel of much more. I guess it had energy.
I had never talked to Craig. I had sent him an email after learning of him. He responded with a go, a place, and some times. I wasn’t sure how we’d fit or connect. Neither did he as he asked me, “So how can I help you?” I just said that if Jennifer wanted me to meet him, it must be for a reason. “Just tell me about you,” is how I replied.
And man, did this guy have a cool story. He’s done the soul searching. He’s done the questioning. He’s done the reading. He’s done the experiencing. But what’s cool is that he’s not done. He’s found what he wants, but he still continues. As I sat there with him talking and listening, I knew why I was to meet him. He’s a more evolved version of me who is making it.
He rattled of books and philosophers. Most I had not heard of. He talked about his youth. He talked about his journey. He talked about his business of helping small companies develop. And I listened. I smiled. It had been a while since I’d talked with someone like this. For some reason, I talked more than I had in my previous interviews.
I guess I didn’t say when I decided it was going to be an interview. It happened as we were sitting there and he talked with such detail, passion, and emotion about who he is and how he got there. That’s when I knew that others needed to hear what he had to say. In my intense listening and happiness, I neglected to turn on my tape recorder. I wish I had. I still captured a lot and learned a lot.
I learned that there are people who have responsibilities (he has a 3 year old daughter) who still have the fire and the passion and still have the questioning. I learned that you can have responsibilities and still have the passion. I learned that your priorities and focus changes as you get responsibilities, but I think those responsibilities make you even more focused and driven.
So now I am back into the interviews. For the last month and a half I had turned down interview opportunities. My brain was full. I still haven’t gotten out all of the interviews from before. I still have a lot stored from my 5 months on the road. But for whatever reason there is now more room. I am ready to soak up more and will do so.
When you’re in the house most of the day writing, it’s great to get out and connect with new people and stimulate your brain. It was a good day. I learned about Craig but I also learned more about me and what I am capable of. I’ll stay in touch with him and will probably meet up again while I’m home.