Aussie in the USA, Pontificating Prince of Positive, Director of Digital at charity: water
@ Fair Folks and a Goat, SoHo NYC
Me: soy latte / PY: soy latte

How we know each other
Paull (with two 'L's) gave me the idea to start fifty coffees. A-HA!

PY and I worked together at charity: water for almost three years. We first met at a cw event in San Francisco, before I was officially hired. His positive energy, enthusiasm, and accent (he’s Australian) immediately drew me in. We're both extroverts who are fueled by social interactions and learning new stuff. He is a connector, a mover & a shaker, a very intelligent, well spoken guy. And Youngy (as his rugby mates call him) has always been a big cheerleader of mine.

He is responsible for a lot of the big partnerships charity: water has benefitted from over the years, including being one of the highlighted companies when Instagram launched their video platform in 2013. But more impressively, he wrote and performed an original rap about his team at our annual staff holiday party. LEGEND.

Discoveries
My coffee date with Paull is the origin story of this project. Sipping non-dairy lattes, we brainstormed job ideas based on what he thinks I'm good at (building community, developing relationships, representing people and brands, authentic "networking"). What type of position and company will help me leverage my people skills? What companies really value relationship building?

I was invigorated hearing an outsider's perspective on my skill set (I was big-time questioning whether or not I even had one of those). Oh, right, I'm personable. People trust me. Ok, this is good.

He told me to read Reid Hoffman's book. He also told me about an article he'd read a few months ago in FastCompany or Inc or Wired about a guy in the San Francisco tech space (maybe? he couldn't exactly remember) who recommended that you set up a bunch of casual coffee meetings when in a transitional work phase.

This is interesting. A transition period blog. I could do this.

What do I need to start a blog right away?
1. A good name
2. Great photos
3. People to meet with

OFF TO THE RACES!