One memorable coffee meeting

☕ Business development can be a bit like dating...

Last year, about this time, I agreed to meet someone for coffee. We had never met but knew a few people in common and it was suggested we should meet. We exchanged a few emails and the appointment made it onto my calendar.

Photo by White.Rainforest ™︎ ∙ 易雨白林. on Unsplash

When I arrived, I looked around and then stepped up to place my order. A woman seated across the room waved. I nodded in return. When my drink was ready, I made my way over to the woman who had waved and said hello.

I’ve had a lot of coffee meetings in my career. They can be a nice way to get to know someone — and they are more time- and cost-efficient than a “business lunch.” Sometimes the conversation gets right down to business, but usually there is a bit of small talk to start.

On this particular day, we connected quickly, discussing travel and coffee. She had just gotten a new espresso machine for her home and was excited to talk about it.

As our conversation transitioned into business, we discussed the macro environment and then a question was raised. A puzzled expression soon followed. We both suddenly realized we were not meeting who we thought we were meeting.

We exchanged first names and confirmed the blunder. Deep laughter ensued.

The person she was actually intending to meet was still in line.

The person I was actually intending to meet was seated in a coffee shop of the same name one block away.

I excused myself, put on my coat and and set out to apologize for now being 15 minutes late to my actual coffee meeting.

As I turned to leave, the woman asked how to find me. You can find me on LinkedIn, I said.

Later that day, she did, coincidentally becoming my 1,000th follower on LinkedIn, and sent me this message:

What just happened was hilarious! Now I have to know you.

Let’s meet for coffee or lunch soon, so funny.

We did meet for coffee about a month later — at the same place, of course!

Some months later, I found myself asking a client in a conversation if they had considered using the services of a firm like the one she represented. I didn’t make a formal referral or recommendation but it made me grateful to have gained this little bit of knowledge I didn’t have before.

And that’s the thing: we never know quite when or where a piece of information learned will suddenly become useful.

This week, I was at an industry event and happened to notice her name badge on the table at check in. I haven’t seen her since our coffee last year. I kept an eye out for her. At the end of the event, I saw her and said hello. I was just thinking it was about time for a coffee, I said.

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Be well,

-Bryce