Give away your fancy coffee machine & Out of office.

I am taking a swift break this week & my first article for a writing course.

Hello Everyone,

I will resume the MarketingDojo in its original form next week.

I tried, but it wasn't feeling ready enough to merit crowding your inboxes. A few things have been taking up time and space for me:

• I enrolled in Write of Passage, a cohort-based writing course by David Perell. The course is hectic, and I am trying to get on my feet. (Sample my first output below) 

• I am in the US for 10 days for a hectic work schedule.

• I moved from extreme Singaporean heat to the coldest places in the US, and the weather change and time zone switch have left me feeling under the weather.

I have tons to share, and I hope to catch up with you next week. 

Wait! Do you have a couple of minutes to spare? 

Here's my first article in the Write to Passage course. 

The prompt: Share a piece of advice that would surprise most people. 

It's different from my usual writing style. What do you think? How can I improve? Let me know your comments.

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Don't buy that fancy coffee machine for your home.

Don't get me wrong. I love a good coffee. 

You know what else I love? Being by myself. 

Now, combine two things: coffee and my love for solitude, and I have a dream combination that keeps me home for days, weeks, and months—happy, satisfied, and in my pyjamas.

In 2018, I moved countries. I sold or gave away most of my possessions. The houses in Singapore were much smaller (and crazy expensive) compared to India. So, I chose to be mindful and moved with belongings that fit in two suitcases.

Amongst the many things I let go, the one that hurt the most was my favourite De Longhi coffee maker. Damn, that was a tough farewell.

As my family settled in with the new move, I struggled with establishing my network. My daughter made new friends at school and in our condo. My husband had a bunch of new co-workers. And me? I was looking for a job, sitting in front of my laptop, applying endlessly for 100s of open positions and hearing back nothing.

For days, I barely had one or no adult conversations. I said I loved my own company, didn't I? But I needed to build a network for mental sanity & professional progress. I was getting desperate.

So, on one of my usual long walks, I was listening to this podcast called "Hidden Brain" by Shankar Vedantam. He suggested an approach to doing something daunting: combine a thing you are afraid of with a thing you love.

For example -devour a small chocolate croissant after you complete your 400-calorie HIIT session.

It was a lightbulb moment for me! 

What did I love and miss? A damn good coffee. 

What was I afraid of and needed to do? Meet new people.

Now, let's combine the two. <<Insert evil laugh soundtrack here>>

I decided that I would never have a coffee alone. If I wanted a coffee, I needed to unearth someone willing to have a cup of coffee with me. Ask a friend, a potential hiring manager or a fellow marketer for a coffee chat. 

I was a woman possessed - I would first research a place I want to have coffee and then write to a dozen people asking for a 30-minute conversation. Sometimes, four times a week because, I love a good dose of caffeine.

And boy, did my network and my tribe of coffee pals expand. I met many hiring managers, recruiters, and people who connected me with other people, mentors, and some of my closest friends. 

Something strange is going on these days. 

When I tell people that I am an introvert, they flat-out refuse to believe me. 

"You must be kidding me! You know everyone. If you are an introvert, what am I then?"

Well, I don't know the answer to that, but full disclosure - I am just an introvert who has decided to ban the coffee machine from her house.

So, if you are an introvert like me who needs to get more social OR you are struggling to do something—like write, maybe? 

Give away or sell that coffee maker and treat yourself to a coffee as a reward for doing the thing that you have been procrastinating about.

Caffeine has magical effects. Try my advice, and you will find out.

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Thank you for your patience. See you in your inbox next Wednesday.

Ciao,

Garima