After stepping down from my role as Managing Director of NBA Asia in July last year following a 23 year career at the league, I was undecided about what to do next. My wife was also evaluating her plans given our imminent departure from life in Hong Kong. We were both determined to take some time to ensure we’d move along the best path.
About the same time as my NBA tenure ended, my wife shared the concept of the 100 Coffee Challenge. She learned about this from a Ted Talk by Saleema Vellani who was facing a challenge of her own. Ms. Vellani suggested that If you are stuck or in the process of reinventing yourself, you should have meaningful conversations with people that you know, people that you don’t know and people outside of your industry.
While the challenge that we were facing differed from that of Ms. Vellani, my wife and I decided to pursue the target of 100 coffees. We started a friendly competition that placed some intent behind the objective and encouraged a more focused approach.
Yesterday was my 100th coffee and appropriately, it was with my wife and my Two Nomads co-founder Ilene Levy. We reviewed the journey and the philosophy of Two Nomads, which is a lifestyle in addition to a company.
Completing the challenge took about seven months. I’d like to thank everyone that shared their time, experience and insights along the way. It was an amazing journey that included industry leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, educators and investors. There were discussions with friends, former colleagues, and so many new connections.
These discussions helped open my mind to new possibilities and add color to the blank canvas that was in front of me. They helped shape my present and my future. Some of these coffees resulted in new friendships and with many, there have been great follow-up discussions (despite the follow ups, each person was only included once in the 100).
So what does it mean now that I’ve finished? Well, it’s time to start over! Back at number one (or more accurately, 101). Although I may take a break from the caffeine. Decaf anyone?!
The journey never ends, we just set off in new directions! Talk to you soon!
