50 First Dates in 60 days

Imagine setting yourself a personal challenge of meeting with at least fifty new people over a period of sixty days.?This week I met someone who has done that.?Fifty first dates in sixty days.?This equals five “dates”, (more like coffees), per week, averaging one coffee per day.?Luckily, they like coffee, and it means when they are having either their mid-morning or afternoon caffeine hit, they are sharing this time with someone new, with a view to expanding their network. ?

I wasn’t aware of the target when I met them, but after finding out about it, I was intrigued. It emerged in our conversation about three-quarters the way through our date.??Not feeling at all like a number (no really, I didn’t) what a fabulous idea I thought, and what a lot of dedication and effort!?I don’t know about you, but things that have a social flavour to them tend to often be rescheduled, two and sometimes three times, which is where I thought, this must be a lot of work.?However, there was no rescheduling here, and I found our date to be interesting and easy.?

Like most first dates, we got to know each other.?Finding out about our stories, family, and backgrounds, and of course, we had a connection through the person that connected us. The person told me where they are from a career perspective, and that led to a discussion about the next role, setting up their own business (that received a firm no), and what type of organisation and leader they prefer to work with.?As I started to think about whom I could introduce them to, having completely brought into this fifty first dates strategy, they politely encouraged me to think about whom I could introduce them to in my network, rather than a job.?They preferred the more serendipitous approach where maybe something would come from meeting new people and expanding their network.?

I could certainly do that.

Setting themselves a target to meet fifty new people in sixty days is making them accountable to build their network.?They have utilised this strategy before, and they know it works.?Whilst one coffee a day may be enough to drain some people’s energy battery, this person, who appears to be more introverted than extroverted, they have implemented this strategic approach with a clear view in mind.?Expand the network, meet new people, and find an opportunity based on people they find to enjoy connecting with rather than a role, where there can be limited assurance of an alignment between purpose and values.?

Maybe this approach is the reverse interview?

I appreciate this strategic approach to building a network, and the commitment to doing this.?Coffee may seem to be the easiest thing to reschedule because seemingly it’s “just” a coffee.?But it’s not.?It’s full of potential, exploration, and commitment, and like all first dates… who knows what it may lead to.

Since our coffee, I have thought of a few people that I will connect this person with, and they will no doubt proceed to arrange their own first dates.?I won’t tell them that they may be date numbers 28, 29, and 30…

Rita Cincotta writes, mentors, and speaks on individual and team performance, leadership development, resilience and new ways of working. She works with organisations to develop human-centred solutions that help people and businesses to thrive.

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